International conference "France, Europe and Vietnam since 1954"

The purpose of this conference was to assess the historical relationship and diplomatic progress between the two countries since the 1954 Geneva Accords to the Franco-Vietnamese strategic cooperation agreement signed in 2013. Major aspects of bilateral relations were presented as discussion topics, including: defense cooperation, the strategic political relationship as assessed by historians and viewed from eyewitness accounts, as well as economic and legal relations, and relations in the cultural and religious fields. The conference took place in three prestigious locations with different symbolic meanings: the subcommittee on defense cooperation was held at the Army Museum, the strategic political relationship was discussed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the cultural and religious cooperation was presented at the Panthéon-Sorbonne University.

Representing the field of history were familiar names, leading experts on Vietnamese history such as Pierre Brocheux, Hugues Tertrais, Pierre Asselin, and historians specializing in international relations such as James G. Hershberg and Pierre Journoud. Veteran diplomats like Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh and former French ambassadors to Vietnam (Louis Amigues, Claude Blanchemaison, Antoine Pouillieute) also contributed their voices and professional experience from their time in office. In the cultural and economic fields, each presentation by experts and researchers addressed a specific aspect of bilateral cooperation such as museums, literature, education, journalism, religion, trade, and nuclear energy…

The delegation from the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities consisted of five scientists. In addition to the opening remarks by Professor Nguyen Van Khanh, the Rector, the other four members (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh - Vice Rector, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thu Huong - Faculty of Psychology, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Van Tung - Faculty of Sociology, and Dr. Bui Thanh Nam - Faculty of International Studies) presented their respective papers on the aforementioned topics, offering observations and perspectives from a contemporary Vietnam viewpoint.

Over the past 40 years, despite periods of ups and downs, the Franco-Vietnamese relationship has achieved significant results thanks to the efforts of both sides. France was the first European country, starting in the 1990s, to actively support Vietnam's Doi Moi (Renovation) process as well as its comprehensive development and international integration. For its part, Vietnam has consistently valued and prioritized its partnership with France within the overall framework of its foreign policy.

Economically and commercially, 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 Official Development Assistance (ODA) donors with important projects such as public finance 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, and supporting training for many hospitals and scientific research institutions in Vietnam…

To date, the two countries have signed many important agreements and treaties, establishing and maintaining regular and effective mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation in economics, defense, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Through these, Vietnam and France have gradually become important and mutually beneficial partners 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 of the papers, the authors emphasized a "new" characteristic in Franco-Vietnamese relations, not only in the commitment to a strategic partnership but also in the multilateral nature of dialogue between the two continents of Eurasia, with France and Vietnam representing their respective continents.

Beyond its significance as the opening event for the Vietnam season in France, the scale and richness of the conference were also demonstrated by its multidisciplinary nature and the large participation of attendees, ranging from researchers (history, sociology, economics, etc.), diplomats, experts, to eyewitnesses. The roles and positions of the authors from various scientific fields made the conference both diverse and multifaceted, and interdisciplinary. This scientific gathering not only summarized 40 years of diplomatic relations (since 1974) but also served as a connection and continuation of Franco-Vietnamese relations from 1954 to the present day.

The seminar is a flagship event of the 2013-2014 Franco-Vietnamese Year – a series of events in the fields of culture, education, university and research cooperation, tourism, sports, economics, etc., co-organized by the two countries to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the establishment 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.