Brian Jeffrey
On October 4, French President Emmanuel Macron and Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of La Francophonie, hosted an official welcoming event for General Secretary and President To Lam, along with other global leaders at the 19th Francophone Summit.
The ceremony took place at Villers Cotterêts Castle, marking General Secretary and President To Lam’s inaugural presence at the summit, which convenes almost 100 delegates from Francophone member nations, international entities, and regional organizations.
This year’s summit, themed “Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship in French,” aims to prioritize and guide collaborative efforts within the Francophonie, with an emphasis on enhancing economic partnerships, innovation, and creativity.
General Secretary and President To Lam will deliver a significant speech, underscoring Vietnam’s proactive, responsible engagement in tackling global issues, while advocating for a future rooted in “peace, friendship, solidarity, and sustainable development.”
In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as a model for socio-economic progress within the Francophonie community, playing a pivotal role in economic collaboration, especially in the digital sector.
Comprising 88 member nations and territories representing roughly 1.2 billion individuals, the Francophonie offers extensive avenues for economic collaboration, including trade, investment, education, sustainable agriculture, tourism, and technology.
During his visit to Paris, General Secretary and President To Lam also engaged with Mr. Geoffroy Roux De Bezieux, Honorary President of the French Employers’ Confederation and Notus Technologies’ founder. Roux De Bezieux and other business leaders commended Vietnam’s commitment to the Francophonie and expressed their eagerness to explore partnerships with the country.
“We are keen to collaborate with Vietnam, especially in the highly competitive fields of agriculture and food processing,” remarked Roux De Bezieux.
General Secretary and President To Lam urged the French Employers’ Confederation to continue its support and act as a connector for business investments between France and Vietnam. He emphasized that the emphasis for Vietnam is on foreign investments that are high-quality, efficient, tech-driven, and environmentally conscious.
He also called for strengthened collaboration between the French Employers’ Confederation and the Francophone Employers’ Union in areas where both sides have promising potential, such as renewable energy, water management, waste recycling, infrastructure projects, technology, innovative solutions, digital progress, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals.
Tran Thuong and Minh Nhat
