International Conference "France, Europe and Vietnam since 1954"

The purpose of this workshop is to assess the historical relationship and diplomatic progress of the two countries since the Geneva Agreement of 1954 to the France-Vietnam strategic cooperation signed in 2013. Major aspects of bilateral relations were raised as discussion topics such as: defense cooperation, political-strategic relations assessed by historians and viewed from witnesses, in addition to economic and legal relations, relations in the fields of culture and religion. The workshop took place at 3 solemn locations with different symbolic meanings: the subcommittee on defense cooperation took place at the Army Museum, the topic of political-strategic relations was discussed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the topic of cultural-religious cooperation was presented at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University.

Representing the historians are familiar names, leading experts on Vietnamese history such as Pierre Brocheux, Hugues Tertrais, Pierre Asselin, or historians specializing in international relations James G. Hershberg or Pierre Journoud. Veteran diplomats such as Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh and former French ambassadors to Vietnam (Louis Amigues, Claude Blanchemaison, Antoine Pouillieute) also contributed their voices and experiences in their careers while in office. In the fields of culture and economics, each presentation by experts or researchers mentioned a specific aspect of bilateral cooperation such as museums, literature, education, journalism, religion, trade, nuclear energy, etc.

The delegation of the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities had 5 scientists attending. In addition to the speech of Professor and Principal Nguyen Van Khanh presented in the opening session, the presentations of the remaining four members (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Vice Principal, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thu Huong - Faculty of Psychology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Van Tung - Faculty of Sociology, Dr. Bui Thanh Nam - Faculty of International Studies) were introduced in each of the above topics as an observation or perspective from a contemporary Vietnam.

Over the past 40 years, despite ups and downs, with efforts from both sides, the France-Vietnam relationship has achieved important results. France was the first European country, since the 1990s, to actively support the Doi Moi process as well as Vietnam's comprehensive development and international integration. For its part, Vietnam has consistently valued and prioritized its partnership with France in its overall foreign policy.

In terms of economy and trade, France is currently the second largest investor and the third largest European trading partner in Vietnam. There are currently over 300 French companies and banks investing and doing business in Vietnam, and many high-quality French goods and services are popular in the Vietnamese market.

At the same time, France is also one of the leading development donors (ODA) with important projects such as public financial management, environmental sanitation, urban planning and development, rural economic development, helping Vietnam build the Museum of Ethnology, the Vietnam-France Law House, supporting the upgrading and provision of medical equipment, supporting training for many hospitals as well as scientific research facilities in Vietnam...

Up to now, the two countries have signed many important agreements and treaties, established and maintained regular and effective dialogue mechanisms, economic cooperation, defense, security, culture, people-to-people exchange, etc. Thereby, Vietnam and France have gradually become important partners with mutual benefits in many fields and at many levels. In September 2013, along with the official visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the two sides decided to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership.

In many papers, the authors emphasized a "new" feature in the France-Vietnam relationship, not only in the commitment to strategic partnership but also because of the multilateral nature of dialogue between the two continents of Europe and Asia, of which France and Vietnam are the two countries representing their continents.

In addition to its significance as the opening of the Vietnam season in France, the scale and richness of the conference are also reflected in its multidisciplinary nature and the large participation of participants, from researchers (historians, sociologists, economists, etc.), diplomats, experts to witnesses. It is the role or position of the authors from many different scientific fields that makes the conference diverse, multidimensional and interdisciplinary. This scientific meeting is not only meaningful in summarizing 40 years of diplomatic relations (since 1974) but also in connecting and continuing the France-Vietnam relationship from 1954 to the present.

The conference is a typical activity for the France-Vietnam Year 2013-2014 - including a series of events in the fields of culture, education, university and research cooperation, tourism, sports, economy... co-organized by the two countries to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The French season in Vietnam took place in the second half of 2013 and the Vietnamese season in France continued in the first half of 2014.