Within the framework of deploying key foreign affairs activities in 2026, on April 2, 2026, Haiphong City solemnly welcomed and held a working session with His Excellency Olivier Brochet, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Vietnam. This event not only practically institutionalizes the Vietnam - France Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (upgraded in 2024) but also marks a breakthrough milestone in shaping the cooperative vision between Vietnam's core gateway locality and French partners in the new era of development.
A Distinctive Milestone in Economic and Cultural Diplomacy
The reception and working session took place in a sincere, trustworthy, and mutually respectful atmosphere. On behalf of the city leadership, the Secretary of the Haiphong City Party Committee expressed great pleasure in welcoming the Ambassador, affirming that the solid foundation of friendship spanning over 50 years between the two nations serves as a launchpad for local-level cooperation programs to deepen.
Particularly, this is a historically significant juncture as Haiphong operates within a new position, possessing outstanding potential and room for development following the milestone of administrative boundary integration. The high similarity and complementarity between the French economy and Haiphong’s development orientations have created a powerful attraction, motivating both sides to exploit immense potentials in investment, trade, healthcare, education, and heritage preservation.
Shaping New Pillars of Strategic Cooperation
At subsequent follow-up talks (including the intensive working session between the Haiphong City Delegation and the French Embassy in Hanoi on April 21, 2026), both sides conducted deep discussions and agreed to concrete an action plan focusing on four key pillars:
- Urban Planning, Development, and Transport Infrastructure: As the largest port city in Northern Vietnam, Haiphong aims towards a smart, green, and sustainable urban model. Capitalizing on the world's leading expertise of French specialists and the companionship of the French Development Agency (AFD), both sides will enhance the exchange of technologies, traffic management solutions, and modern urban spatial planning adaptive to climate change.
- High-Tech and Green Industries: Haiphong reaffirms its commitment to creating the most favorable conditions to attract high-quality Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows from France, with special priority given to projects in high technology, renewable energy, circular economy, and sustainable coastal development.
- High-Quality Healthcare and Education: Continuing the remarkable achievements in medical training and technology transfer over the past years, both sides agreed to maintain and expand scientific research programs among hospitals and universities. In education, the teaching of the French language and the deployment of the French Government's scholarship programs will continue to be vigorously promoted to prepare a global human resource pool for the city.
- Heritage Preservation and the Grand Restoration of the City Opera House: This is the cooperation content carrying the highest cultural symbolism. The French side, with the participation of the French Institute in Vietnam, the French International Technical Cooperation Agency (Expertise France), and leading architects, will provide comprehensive professional support to Haiphong in preserving and promoting the value of architectural works bearing French imprints. The center of this effort is the grand restoration project of the Haiphong City Opera House—the unique cultural symbol of the Port City.
Deep Strategic Significance of the Event
The visit and working session of Ambassador Olivier Brochet yield highly significant diplomatic and economic values for Haiphong City:
- Affirming Haiphong's Position and Attractiveness: The event proves that Haiphong continues to be a priority destination for major diplomatic delegations and international partners. The philosophy of "diplomacy in service of development" is vividly actualized as political commitments are promptly translated by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Construction, and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism into specific technical working roadmaps.
- A Perfect Blend of Modernization and Identity Preservation: The cooperation with France in restoring the City Opera House and preserving ancient structures demonstrates the sustainable development mindset of the city leaders. Haiphong does not trade off heritage for pure economic growth, but rather transforms Franco-Vietnamese architectural and cultural values into an endogenous resource, elevating the urban brand value and boosting high-end tourism.
- Opening Up International Financial and Expert Resources: The involvement of major institutions such as AFD and Expertise France offers opportunities to access long-term preferential capital and a pool of talented experts, helping Haiphong solve large equations in urban planning and transport infrastructure methodically and synchronously.
The visit and working session of the Ambassador of the French Republic to Haiphong concluded with strong commitments and a detailed, substantive implementation roadmap. The partnership between the gateway locality of Vietnam and the French Republic will undoubtedly develop with long-term stability and ultimate efficiency, contributing practically to the shared prosperity of both nations./.