The Director General for International Relations and Strategy of the French Ministry of Defence interfaces with Cadres and Students of Diplomatic Academy

On the occasion of the 2nd France-Vietnam Dialogue on Strategic Defense Cooperation issues, on April 14, 2022, Alice GUITTON, Director General for International Relations and Strategy of the French Ministry of Defence, visited and exchanged with cadres, teachers, researchers and students of the Diplomatic Academy.

The video showcases the highlights of the discussion:

Ms. Alice GUITTON, Director General for International Relations and Strategy of the French Ministry of Defence paid a visit to Viet Nam from April 13th to 17th, 2022 to co-chair the 2nd France-Vietnam Dialogue on Strategic Defense Cooperation issues. On this occasion, she visited and exchanged ideas with students and staff of the Academy on the morning of Thursday, April 14, 2022.

The dialogue took place in an open and frank atmosphere, with a focus on substantive discussions of current international issues. The first session was dedicated to students of the Academy, who exchanged views on topics of great interest, including: (i) France's Indo-Pacific Strategy following the establishment of AUKUS; (ii) European defense issues - France's perspective and recent developments, including the Ukraine conflict. The second session was lively with active participation from many of the Academy's staff, teachers and researchers, as they engaged in discussions on particularly topical international issues: (i) The global landscape after the Ukraine crisis: changes in defense and security cooperation; (ii) France's views and policies on the Indo-Pacific region, especially the East Sea; (iii) Assessment of Vietnam-France and Vietnam-EU relations, and prospects for future cooperation, particularly on maritime issues.

Accompanying the General Director during the dialogue were Mr. Nicolas Warnery, Ambassador of France to Vietnam, officials from the French Embassy and the French Defense Delegation. Also present from the Vietnamese side were Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Dinh Tinh, Director General of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategy Studies; Mr. Do Duc Thanh, Director General of the Office of Administration, officer in charge of Francophone cooperation at the Diplomatic Academy; Dr. Lai Thai Binh, Deputy Director of the East Sea Institute, and delegates including former Vietnamese ambassadors to France and the United States, and representatives of leaders of some units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy, delivered a speech expressing his honor in welcoming the delegation of the Director General of International Relations and Strategy of the French Ministry of Defense to the Diplomatic Academy. The event not only demonstrated the French Ministry of Defense's interest in Viet Nam but also highlighted the Diplomatic Academy's role in international cooperation activities.

In her remarks, Ms. Alice GUITTON emphasized that the event signified the desire to deepen the relationship between Vietnam and France, moving towards the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023). She noted that the recent resurgence of the use of force in international relations has destabilized global security, presenting an opportunity for the two countries to engage in discussions on solutions to address these shared challenges.

The discussion also featured extensive question-and-answer sessions during which Vietnamese diplomatic officials, scholars, researchers, and students of the Academy engaged with the French Defense Delegation.

The core issues of the dialogue were thoroughly discussed in a lively atmosphere of goodwill, objectivity, and equality. Ms. Alice expressed her appreciation for the insights and assessments shared by the experts from the Diplomatic Academy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the thought-provoking questions raised by the Academy's students.

The seminar successfully ended in a warm, open, and friendly atmosphere. On behalf of the Diplomatic Academy, Dr. Nguyen Hung Son expressed his sincere gratitude and presented a meaningful souvenir to the Director General and the delegation members. Through this event, the Diplomatic Academy expressed its confidence and expectations for an increasingly strong cooperative relationship between the two countries./.

Other photos of the event: