Party General Secretary and State President To Lam visited Le Havre and had a meeting with Mayor of the French city Édouard Philippe on October 6, within the framework of his official visit to France.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (L) meets with Mayor of Le Havre Édouard Philippe (Photo: VNA)
Le Havre (VNA) - Party General Secretary and State President To Lam visited Le Havre and had a meeting with Mayor of the French city Édouard Philippe on October 6, within the framework of his official visit to France.
Congratulating the city's leaders and people on their achievements in building Le Havre into one of the important gateways for the world's maritime trade, Lam recalled that Le Havre is also a place that bears the mark of late President Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary life and is a vivid symbol of bilateral friendship between the two countries, and a precious heritage that demonstrates the close historical connection between Vietnam and France.
Lam appreciated positive contributions of Philippe, who served as French Prime Minister from May 2017 to July 2020, to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
He showed his delight at the development of cooperation between Le Havre and Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang, thus contributing to strengthening and expanding the French city’s collaboration with Vietnamese localities in areas such as people-to-people exchange, seaport development, logistics and maritime transport, marine environmental protection, and maritime technology.
The Mayor of Le Havre expressed his special affection for the country and people of Vietnam, and his deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh. He recalled good memories of his visits to Vietnam, particulary the country's dynamism and rapid development, and wished to promote cooperation between Le Havre and Vietnamese localities in training high quality human resources, encouraging French businesses to promote investment in Vietnam, especially in the city's strong areas.
As President of the International Association of Cities and Ports (IACP), Philippe affirmed he will support connecting Vietnam’s ports with the world port system.
Lam and Philippe emphasised that the East Sea is the world's lifeline for goods transportation and the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
🐎 Mayor Philippe visited Vietnam several times, with the latest ones in November 2018 as the prime minister of France, and in February 2023 as the mayor of Le Havre./.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on October 6 attended the inauguration of a memorial plaque honouring President Ho Chi Minh, a national liberation hero and an outstanding cultural figure of Vietnam, in France's Sainte-Adresse city.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam laid flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his statue in Montreau Park in Montreuil city, France, on October 6.
Party General Secretary and President To Lam on October 5 attended a ceremony to hand over the Francophone Economic Forum (FFA) award to outstanding businesses where FPT Corporation of Vietnam was honoured.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
The ministry has instructed Vietnamese representative agencies in Israel, Iran, as well as those in neighbouring countries, to closely monitor the situation and request local authorities to ensure absolute safety for Vietnamese citizens living, studying, and working in high-risk areas.
Senior Vietnamese leaders on June 19 sent letters of congratulations to New Zealand leaders on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam – New Zealand diplomatic relations (June 19, 1975 – 2025).
The Party chief attributed the achievements in the first half to the continuous, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, and the close and effective coordination of relevant ministries, sectors and localities.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the VPA’s General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering gratitude for Cuba’s invaluable support during its struggle for independence and nation-building efforts, and pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cuba as it navigates current challenges.
Vietnam is a country with which Russia shares a special relationship. In the 1950s and 60s, particularly during Vietnam’s struggle for independence, the two countries forged a deep bond. While much has changed over time, the friendship and cooperation between our nations have endured, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For 50 years, Vietnam and New Zealand have worked together to uphold peace and prosperity for their peoples and the region. The friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding Vietnam and New Zealand nurtured have grown from a seed into a deeply rooted, strong, and thriving tree, she stressed.
Since the Strategic Partnership was established in 2020, Vietnam and New Zealand have witnessed steady growth in the relations. Beyond the remarkable 40% increase in bilateral trade over five years, political relations and multilateral interactions, particularly within the CPTPP framework, have remained highly positive.
Known as the “four pillars for Vietnam’s ascend”, the Pobiburo's Resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68 focus on cultivating a robust national entrepreneurial spirit, unlocking resources for innovation across society, and accelerating the development of digital economy, knowledge-based economy, green economy, and circular economy, propelling Vietnam forward rapidly and firmly on the path of modernisation and international integration.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
