Vietnam and France deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through expanded cooperation in trade, science, technology, space, energy, infrastructure, defence, education and climate action.
Vietnam and France are set to consolidate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam, Mr To Lam, pays a state visit to France. The state visit is likely to bolster mutual political trust and generate new impetus for cooperation in emerging and conventional fields.
The visit is also the second official one made by Mr Lam to France and comes at a time when he will be attending the International Space Summit 2026 being held in Paris. This shows that the Vietnamese nation supports the French nation’s initiative of fostering dialogue and cooperation in space.
Also read: Turkiye and Russia Sign Pact to Secure Fertiliser Supplies
The strategic partnership between Vietnam and France was established in 2013, and Vietnam-France relations took a leap forward to reach a new level of comprehensive strategic partnership in October 2024, when both parties decided to enhance the level of relations. In fact, France is the first country within the European Union that signs the high-level partnership agreement with Vietnam.
There are economic ties between the two countries, which still constitute one of the pillars of the partnership. France is now the fourth largest trading partner for Vietnam in Europe, with total bilateral trade standing at $6.3 billion in 2025, registering a growth of 16.4% over the previous year.
The relationship continues to grow in directions that are connected to the development priorities of Vietnam and the technological advantages of France. Areas in which closer cooperation could be developed include energy, strategic infrastructure, urban transport, aerospace, climate change responses, science and technology, and digital technology/AI.
Space cooperation is thus especially significant as an emerging field. The International Space Summit is an occasion for Vietnam to participate in the debates about international space governance, satellite technologies, security and technological independence. Moreover, Vietnam would like to make its contribution to the development of international regulations for the use of outer space.
Also read: Why Ongoing Innovation is more Critical in the Retail industry
However, apart from government-to-government relations, there are many more activities of cooperation between Vietnam and France that encompass such areas as culture, education, health care, tourism, judicial matters and scientific research. Today, there are about 7,000 Vietnamese students studying in France.
In addition, the Vietnamese community in France, which consists of some 350,000 people, also works as an important link between the two nations. As cooperation in terms of trade and defence grows to incorporate advanced technology and even space technology and innovation, the current visit will see stronger political relations translated into practical economic and strategic cooperation.