The solidarity of the people and businesses along with bilateral strategic trust would contribute to improving the Vietnam-France relations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the Vietnam-France business forum. Source: VNA

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the view at the Vietnam-France business forum held on November 4.

Given the economic potential from Vietnam and France, Chinh called on enterprises from the two countries to strengthen investment cooperation in line with the global development trends.

Chinh noted the French business community may also support Vietnam in policy consultation, administrative reform, high-quality human resources training, and state governance.

“Vietnam and France have overcome differences in the past and are now firmly looking toward the future,” Chinh said, adding mutual interests are factors that take both countries closer.

According to the prime minister, bilateral relations have been progressing strongly in all spheres including trade, investment, culture, and education, and bring benefits for all involved.

“Vietnam stands firm in pursuing multilateralism, serving as an active and responsible member of the international community,” he continued.

As Vietnam is pursuing rapid and sustainable development, the Government leader noted human remains the key factor, saying the huge investment potential of Vietnam not only comes from a favorable business/investment environment but also the friendly, smart, and dynamic Vietnamese people.

“Issues that are of investors’ interests such as infrastructure quality, legal institution and human resources are also the focus of the Vietnamese Government,” Chinh noted, adding such factors are seen as strategic breakthroughs for Vietnam to become a high-income country by 2045.

Following the latest Covid-19 outbreak in Vietnam, Chinh noted the authorities have now shifted the Covid-19 strategy to safe and flexible adaptation to the pandemic situation for socio-economic recovery.

“Vietnam aims to reopen the economy in phases, and has achieved positive results during this progress,” he said.

Vice General Director of T&T Group Nguyen Thi Thanh Binh and representative of Total Eren agree on renewables cooperation.

29 cooperation agreements

At the event, Prime Minister Chinh witnessed the signing of 29 cooperation agreements between the two countries in fields of trade, investment, construction, culture, education, science-technology, and innovation.

Cooperation in trade and investments are estimated at billions of dollars, including an agreement between Vinfast and EDF on providing charging equipment and services for Vinfast’s clients; Vietjet and Airbus signing strategic partnership on the provision of 184 aircraft and the handover of three A330; HDBAnk and the French Development Finance Institution (Proparco) on providing financial support for renewables projects in Vietnam; Viettel and Rapid Space International on 5G Development; T&T Group and Total on a strategic partnership to develop renewable projects of around $3 billion.

Both Governments also signed agreements for cooperation in training human resources in fields of planning, public investment management, and corporate development; T&T and Cancer Center Francois Baclesse on building high-quality hospitals at Ho Chi Minh City; IDS Equity Holdings and Euro Asia Edu on establishing European standard universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; Hanoi Medical University and NG Biotech on transferring technologies for the production of test kits.

Prime Minister Chinh in a meeting with MEDEF Chairman Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux. Source: VNA

Open up new opportunities for Vietnam-France businesses

Prior to the Vietnam-France business forum, Prime Minister Chinh had a meeting with the Chairman of the French Business Confederation (MEDEF) Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux.

 Chinh called on the confederation with a membership of 185,000 employing 10 million workers to further push for trade, economic, and investment cooperation with Vietnam, especially in fields of renewables, hi-tech, innovation, healthcare, education, and science-technology.

“These are fields that France has deep expertise in while Vietnam is in need of development,” he added.

“There is no direct competition in trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, but only of complementary nature,” Chinh said.

For his part, Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux said the MEDEF sees huge potential to push for Vietnam-France economic cooperation, adding Vietnam has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

According to Geoffroy, Vietnam has shown a strong commitment to infrastructure development, clean agriculture, healthcare improvements, and innovation, which open up opportunities for French companies.

He noted the French companies are showing huge interests in Vietnam’s economy, which are reflected by the large number of cooperation agreements signed between the two.