The recent official visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Vietnamese President To Lam to Mongolia, Ireland, his participation in the Francophonie Summit, and his visit to France concluded successfully, with many special arrangements provided by the host countries.

Today, General Secretary and President To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi, marking the conclusion of his official visits to Mongolia, Ireland, his participation in the 19th Francophonie Summit, and his visit to France.

With a packed schedule, Mr. To Lam and the delegation engaged in nearly 80 diverse activities across bilateral and multilateral platforms. There were 22 activities in Mongolia, 18 in Ireland, and 36 in France.

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, this official visit included many significant “firsts.” It was the first state visit to Mongolia in 16 years, the first to Ireland in nearly 30 years since diplomatic relations were established, and the first visit to France in 22 years. It also marked the first time the President attended the Francophonie Summit.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son highlighted the great success of the visit, emphasizing its remarkable achievements.

The leaders of the respective states, governments, and parliaments warmly welcomed President To Lam and his delegation, offering a respectful and gracious reception with many special arrangements. These arrangements underscored the importance these nations place on Vietnam’s position and reputation and reflected the deep political trust between Vietnam and the host countries.

Notably, despite France hosting the Francophonie Summit with 100 delegations of heads of state, President Emmanuel Macron extended special courtesy to Party Chief and President To Lam, including ceremonial honors exceeding standard protocol.

Historic milestones

This visit marks a strong implementation of Vietnam's foreign policy as the nation stands at the threshold of a new era, with the country making remarkable strides on the global stage.

Mr. To Lam's visit created significant historical milestones in relations with the three nations, including the signing of three joint declarations: establishing a Comprehensive Partnership with Mongolia, a Strategic Partnership in higher education with Ireland, and elevating the Vietnam-France relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam and the host nations signed nearly 20 cooperation agreements, including seven with Mongolia, three with Ireland, and nearly ten with France.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son noted that the visit opened up new opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and the host nations in various fields.

One notable achievement was the announcement by Party leader and President To Lam that Vietnam would open an embassy in Ireland, marking a new phase in bilateral relations and meeting the wishes of the Vietnamese community in Ireland.

Regarding the critical highlights, Deputy Prime Minister Son shared that the upgrade of Vietnam-France relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership represents a groundbreaking advancement. This move provides a solid foundation to deepen political trust between the two nations, further advancing bilateral ties for the benefit of their peoples and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

At the 19th Francophonie Summit, Mr. To Lam delivered a keynote speech, promoting the message of strong support for multilateralism and emphasizing the role of multilateral institutions, including the Francophonie.

Party Chief and President To Lam and the Francophonie leaders also adopted the “Villers-Cotterêts Declaration,” reaffirming their strong commitment to advancing multilateralism for peace, friendship, solidarity, and sustainable development.

"We maximized the opportunity to enhance relations with various countries and international organizations, highlighting Vietnam’s enormous potential for trade and investment cooperation, particularly in the fields of science and technology. Vietnam was mentioned frequently in discussions at the summit and regarded as a development model within the Francophonie Community," Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son remarked.

The state leaders and government officials from Francophonie nations and international organizations proactively met with Party Chief and President To Lam to express their desire to enhance cooperation with Vietnam and learn from its experiences.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the significant highlights of the visit reaffirm Vietnam's correct foreign policy, which not only strengthens bilateral relations but also reflects the nation's role and responsibility in global affairs.

Future directions

Looking ahead, Deputy Prime Minister Son outlined plans for Vietnam and the host countries to implement and materialize the achievements from the visit.

For Mongolia, specific measures will be implemented to realize the Comprehensive Partnership, promote trade exchanges, and enhance cooperation in the agricultural sector.

In Ireland, the relevant agencies of both countries will work together to promote the implementation of the joint statement on strengthening the Vietnam-Ireland partnership, especially in higher education, agriculture, energy, high technology, and digital transformation.

With France, relevant ministries and localities will enhance cooperation in politics, defense, security, trade, innovation, sustainable development, and fostering people-to-people exchanges to bring the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into practical effect.

In the Francophonie Community, Vietnam will continue to advance the economic pillar, particularly the digital economy within the Francophonie space. At the same time, the nation will harness the significant potential of the Francophonie Community to boost trade, investment, agriculture, energy, sustainable tourism, scientific and technological cooperation, and innovation, while supporting trilateral cooperation efforts with Africa.

Tran Thuong