Viet Nam and France established the diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973.
The two sides have exchanged numerous high-ranking delegations including the official visits of French President Mitterrand to Viet Nam in 1993, President Chirac in 1997 and 2004 and PM Fillon in 2009; Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu in 2000 and Party leader Nong Duc Manh in 2005, State President Tran Duc Luong in 2002, and PM Nguyen Tan Dung in 2007.
Both sides have formulated a number of cooperative frameworks, including the ministerial-level strategic dialogues on national defense and security, joint committee on national defense cooperation, annual high-ranking economic dialogue and decentralized cooperation conference. The two countries have also cooperated fruitfully at international and regional forums like the UN, ASEM, and ASEAN-EU.
So far, France is the 3rd largest EU trade partner of Viet Nam after Germany and the UK. In 2012, the two-way trade volume touched US$3.2 billion, an increase of 15% against the previous year.
Viet Nam chiefly ships footwear, garments and textiles, household utensils, aquaculture, electronic spare parts to France while importing aviation equipments, pharmaceutical, mechanic and electronic products, chemicals and beverage from the European country.
As of December 31, 2012, France is the second largest European investor in Viet Nam (after the Netherlands) and ranked 15th out of 92 foreign contries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with 375 projects worth over US$3.1 billion.
Regarding outbound investment, three Vietnamese enterprises are doing business in France in which Viet Nam Airlines poured US$20 million in airlines ticket sales and marketing; FPT Cooperation invested €11 million in software business and IT services; CMC Software also penetrated in software and IT services with €100,000 of investment.
France is always a leading European ODA provider for Viet Nam, with over US$339 million committed last year. In addition, the Southeast Asian nation is one of a few countries which benefit from France’s three financial assistance channels.
Under the framework document on partnership between the two countries for the 2006-2010 period, France gives priority to assist Viet Nam in five areas, namely socio-economic infrastructure construction, technology transfer, agriculture, industry and finance.
The European country always regards education and training as one of its key priorities in the relations with Viet Nam especially French language teaching, tertiary and post-graduate education in the aspects of economic management, banking, finance and new technology. Each year, the French Government grants 80 scholarships for Vietnamese students.
The French Government also yearly provided €5 million to develop cultural linkages with Viet Nam via cultural centers like French Cultural Center L’Espace in Ha Noi, the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) in Ho Chi Minh City, Hue and Da Nang.
The European country is also one of the biggest investor (7th) in tourism with 14 projects worth US$188 million./.
By Kim Anh
