HCMC - French President Emmanuel Macron met with Vietnamese General Secretary and President To Lam at the Élysée Palace in Paris on October 7 (local time) as part of his ongoing state visit to France. The two leaders held a joint press conference ahead of their talks.

Macron reiterated France's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Vietnam, focusing on economic cooperation and cultural preservation. He stated France is keen on facilitating Vietnamese investments and supporting Vietnam's projects in France.

France expressed interest in enhancing collaboration with Vietnam in education and healthcare. Macron praised Vietnam's efforts in energy transition and climate change mitigation, highlighting the Southeast Asian country's role in promoting regional stability and peace as a member of ASEAN.

Lam expressed his gratitude to France for the welcome extended to the Vietnamese high-level delegation during the visit.

This was Lam's first trip to France in his capacity as Vietnam's Party General Secretary and President and also the first visit to France by a top Vietnamese leader in 22 years. He congratulated France on the successful hosting of the Paris Olympics and the Francophonie Summit. Lam acknowledged the major progress made in 50-year diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France, especially since the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2013. France remains a key partner in Vietnam's foreign policy and plays a vital role within the Francophone community and on the global stage. At the press conference, Lam proposed elevating the Vietnam-France partnership to a new height. He outlined five key areas for enhanced cooperation, namely politics, defense and security, economic ties, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges. These topics will be discussed during the two leaders' talks. If agreed upon, France would become the first European Union country to establish such "a new, comprehensive partnership" with Vietnam, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Lam and Macron also witnessed the signing of agreements between Vietnamese and French officials and businesses in the areas of education and aviation.

Earlier today, French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu presided over a welcome ceremony in honor of Lam and the Vietnamese delegation at the Invalides Palace in Paris.

Lam had separate meetings with Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly; Fabien Roussel, National Secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF); and Nguyen Hai Nam, chairman of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV).