France seeks to expand cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City across key sectors

Brochet made the remarks at a meeting with chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City administration Nguyen Van Duoc on Monday evening.

The talks took place on the sidelines of an annual gathering between city leaders and foreign diplomatic missions ahead of the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year holiday), which lasts a week from February 17.

Brochet said that since Vietnam and France upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in October 2024, ties between Ho Chi Minh City and French partners have expanded steadily across multiple fields.

He described the southern metropolis as a key destination for French businesses and a market with strong growth potential.

In healthcare, the ambassador highlighted the ongoing construction of the VNVC vaccine and biological products plant as per a memorandum of understanding between Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) and French pharmaceutical group Sanofi.

The deal was signed during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Vietnam in May 2025.

On trade and investment, Brochet said Ho Chi Minh City continues to attract a large number of French companies and remains a market with strong potential.

He noted that France would continue working with the French business community to explore new cooperation opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, green finance, and the development of the city’s carbon credit market.

France is also keen to participate in urban rail projects, especially metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the meeting, Duoc said Vietnam and France have steadily strengthened relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973, with France becoming the first European Union country to elevate ties with Vietnam to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

He noted that bilateral relations have been reinforced by frequent high-level exchanges, highlighted by President Macron’s visit to Vietnam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to France for the United Nations Ocean Conference, both last year.

Cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and French partners has also expanded in recent years.

In 2025, two-way trade between the city and France exceeded US$723 million, while French investors operated 720 projects in the city with a total registered investment of more than $4 billion.

The city is currently working with Lyon on urban development planning and has expanded cooperation with the Brest metropolitan area in marine science and technology.

Duoc said Ho Chi Minh City hopes to strengthen links with more French localities in the coming period.

He also called for deeper cooperation in financial services, infrastructure, high technology, digital transformation, smart urban solutions, energy, healthcare, high-quality human resource training, and climate change adaptation.

In addition, the city aims to expand French-language teaching, promote cultural exchanges, and support professional training for museum staff.

Brochet thanked city authorities for their continued support for the French community and French businesses operating in Ho Chi Minh City.

He stressed the desire of both sides to further advance bilateral relations in line with the comprehensive strategic partnership, building on the long-standing foundation of cooperation between the two countries.