Francophone cooperation opens new doors for Vietnam

Party chief and President To Lam and a high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Cambodia on Saturday to attend the 20th Francophonie Summit, the second such event to be held in the Asia-Pacific region after the 1997 summit in Hanoi.

At the Hanoi meeting, Vietnam proposed expanding cooperation beyond language and culture into economic and social development.

Over the past three decades, it has continued to promote Francophone collaboration in education, research, and human resource development.

Hanoi now hosts the International Organization of La Francophonie's (OIF) Asia-Pacific Regional Office, while Ho Chi Minh City houses the regional Francophone Center.

"Vietnam successfully hosted the 1997 Francophonie Summit, and I believe its leaders will bring practical ideas and even more ambitious goals as the summit returns to the Asia-Pacific," French Ambassador to Vietnam Didier Le Bret said.

Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Vietnam would prioritize promoting peace, dialogue, and the peaceful settlement of disputes under international law, while expanding Francophone cooperation into economic development, science and technology, innovation, and human resources.

Party chief and President To Lam is expected to address major issues facing the community and open FrancoTech, a business forum aimed at strengthening economic and innovation ties.

He will also meet Cambodian leaders and counterparts from other Francophone countries, particularly African nations.

Nguyen Minh Vu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia, said the OIF's global network offers substantial economic opportunities.

Vietnam's GDP exceeded US$500 billion in 2025, while its trade links span more than 230 economies.

The country has signed 18 free trade agreements with over 60 partners.

The Francophone Community, meanwhile, represents around 1.2 billion people, 16 percent of global GDP, and 20 percent of global trade.

Africa is a particularly promising market. Of the OIF's 90 members, associate members and observers, 27 full members and three observers are African countries.

The French ambassador said the network could help Vietnam access these markets, noting that French-speaking Vietnamese professionals could contribute their expertise across the continent.

Trade figures point to considerable room for growth.

Vietnam exported around $4 billion worth of goods to Africa and imported $5.5 billion in 2024.

Vietnam’s exports to Senegal reached $103.6 million in 2025, expanding 136 percent, while rice shipments totaled more than 168,000 metric tons, or $52.57 million, up nearly 30-fold versus the previous year.

Vietnamese coffee also accounts for more than half of the market in Algeria, where French is widely used in business, according to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Amid persistent uncertainties in global trade, stronger ties with Africa could help Vietnam diversify its export markets and reduce reliance on a limited number of trading partners.

Ahead of the summit, Vietnam held a meeting in Hanoi to explore trade and investment opportunities with Africa.

African ambassadors proposed establishing an Africa-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, holding regular business forums and expanding business-matching activities.

Ambassador Vu spotlighted agriculture as a key area for cooperation, with potential benefits for food security and poverty reduction.

Other promising sectors include renewable energy, digital transformation, high-tech agriculture, sustainable tourism, and innovation.

Vietnam, one of three Francophone Community members in ASEAN alongside Laos and Cambodia, could also serve as a gateway for Francophone partners seeking stronger economic ties with Southeast Asia, thanks to its strategic location, seaports, and trade agreements.

Ambassador Didier Le Bret also stressed the value of French-language skills for young Vietnamese, saying they could open access to quality education in France and employment opportunities in international markets.