Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang visited Grenoble city from February 17-20 as part of activities to enhance cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and French localities.

At a meeting with Mayor of Grenoble Eric Piolle, Thang appreciated the sentiments and whole-hearted support from the local authorities to the Vietnamese community and students there.      

 The ambassador highlighted Grenoble’s cooperation with Vietnam, especially in higher education, scientific-technological research and high-tech, expressing his hope for stronger collaboration in the areas.

For his part, Piolle noted his readiness for cooperation in the areas of Vietnam’s interests and Grenoble’s strengths, and held that apart from the above-said fields, the two sides should take new steps in economic and trade ties, and pay more attention to cultural collaboration. 

Within the framework of the trip, Thang had working sessions with representatives of investment and trade agencies in the Grenoble Alpes region, and visited some research and training facilities in Grenoble.

At the meetings, the diplomat affirmed that Vietnam is a developing country with many needs in infrastructure, industry, energy, microelectronics and healthcare, and expressed his hope to develop partnerships with Grenoble in these spheres.

Highlighting the prospect for cooperation between enterprises from Vietnam and Grenoble region, Director of Invest Grenoble Alpes Métropole Nicolas Béroud spoke highly of the Southeast Asia’s impressive growth in the region.

He held that Vietnamese startups could roll out their projects in Grenoble, especially those in the areas of semiconductor, digital technology, health care, and new energy.

Meanwhile, Pierre Emmanuel Chaux from Grex International under the Grenoble Chamber of Commerce and Industry described Vietnam as a potential market, saying Grenoble boasts strengths in industry, new energies and high technologies – the areas that Vietnam wants to branch out during its development process.

He suggested both sides think of cooperation projects in these fields in the time ahead.

During his working trip to Grenoble city, Ambassador Thang and his spouse attended a traditional Vietnamese lunar New Year gathering held by the General Union of the Vietnamese People in Isère region and the Association of Vietnamese Students in Grenoble.

VNA