French Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu is accompanying French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse on a state visit to Vietnam.
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Minister Phan Van Giang welcomes French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu. |
During the meeting, Minister Phan Van Giang spoke highly of the increasingly positive developments in Vietnam–France relations, particularly the recent upgrade of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit to France by General Secretary and President To Lam in October 2024.
The Vietnamese defense leader emphasized that bilateral defense cooperation continues to be strengthened and developed in a practical and effective manner across multiple fields, such as delegation exchanges, training, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and the defense industry. This cooperation has developed in line with the shared vision of senior leaders of both countries and their defense ministries, and in accordance with signed cooperation documents.
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Minister Sébastien Lecornu writing in the guestbook at Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense |
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An overview of the meeting |
Minister Giang affirmed that there remains great potential for further bilateral defense cooperation. Based on the Letter of Intent signed earlier on May 26, he suggested that the two sides continue to effectively implement cooperative measures in line with the shared understanding of senior leaders and the annual cooperation program. Key priority areas for future cooperation include exchange of delegations, strategic dialogue and defense cooperation mechanisms, military medicine, hydrography, training, war legacy settlement, search and rescue, United Nations peacekeeping operations, and mutual support at regional and international security forums.
These efforts, he said, would help promote more in-depth, effective, and substantive defense cooperation between Vietnam and France, for the benefit of both nations and for regional and global peace, stability, and development. This cooperation, he added, deserves to be a pillar in the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
On this occasion, Minister Phan Van Giang sincerely thanked the French Ministry of the Armed Forces for sending a delegation and defense enterprises to participate in and exhibit at the Vietnam Defense Expo 2024, contributing to the success of the event.
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General Phan Van Giang presents a souvenir to Minister Sébastien Lecornu. |
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Members of the two delegations pose for a group photo. |
For his part, Minister Sebastien Lecornu expressed his pleasure in visiting Vietnam for the second time. He thanked Minister Phan Van Giang for the solemn reception, affirming that the meeting between the two ministers was an important sign of the healthy development of bilateral relations. He emphasized that shared historical ties serve as a foundation for future cooperation. France and Vietnam, he said, share a common aspiration for peace, respect for international law, and mutual respect.
Referring to the cooperation plans recently agreed upon by both countries’ senior leaders during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Vietnam, Minister Lecornu expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to actively promote defense cooperation, making a substantive and meaningful contribution to the Vietnam–France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Translated by Tran Hoai