Vietnam, France foster cooperation in health care, pharmaceuticals

A delegation from the Vietnam - France Friendship and Cooperation Association (AACVF) led by Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, former Health Minister of Vietnam and Honorary President of the AACVF, paid a working visit to France from October 6 - 10 to seek stronger cooperation between the two countries in the fields of health care and pharmaceuticals.

Representatives of the VNVC and Sanofi sign a letter of intent on vaccine manufacturing partnership in Paris on October 8. (Photo: VNA)
Representatives of the VNVC and Sanofi sign a letter of intent on vaccine manufacturing partnership in Paris on October 8. (Photo: VNA)

Paris (VNA) – A delegation from the Vietnam - France Friendship and Cooperation Association (AACVF) led by Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, former Health Minister of Vietnam and Honorary President of the AACVF, paid a working visit to France from October 6 - 10 to seek stronger cooperation between the two countries in the fields of health care and pharmaceuticals.

Tien and Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, together with leaders of the Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC), visited Sanofi Group's vaccine manufacturing plant, where they discussed cooperation in producing some Sanofi vaccines at the VNVC factory in Vietnam.

VNVC Chairman and CEO Ngo Chi Dung said that his company plans to build a vaccine and biologicals factory using cutting-edge technology and complying with the EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards in Long An province. It prioritises cooperation with Sanofi towards manufacturing vaccines in Vietnam.

Tien, who is also a vaccine expert, said that the discussions demonstrate the rise of Vietnam's science sector and businesses in mastering advanced technologies and techniques for vaccine research and production, helping Vietnam ensure the self-sufficiency of vaccines in the future and reduce dependence on imports.

Ambassador Thang hailed the partnership between the VNVC and Sanofi, describing it as a continuation of the two countries' cooperation, especially in health care and vaccine production.

During the visit, the delegation, the Association of Vietnamese Youth and Students in France (UEVF), and representatives of FPT Software in the European country jointly held a seminar on Vietnamese youth's startups, during which participants shared their experience in launching new companies, difficulties facing them, and ways to navigate challenges.

Prf. Nguyen Lan Trung, Chairman of the Vietnam - France Friendship Association of Hanoi and Vice President of the AACVF, said that the sound traditional friendship and partnership between the two countries over the past 50 years is a favourable condition for the two sides to promote bilateral relations.

The AACVF's activities aim to help carry out cooperation between the two countries and open up market opportunities for businesses from both nations, Trung stated./.

VNA

See more

Local residents and visitors tour and shop at a fair. (Photo: VNA)

Made in Vietnam Fair set to open in Hanoi

The Made in Vietnam Fair will showcase a wide range of products, including industrial and consumer goods, processed foods, agricultural produce and handicrafts, with the participation of distribution systems, e-commerce platforms, digital platforms and digital financial solution providers operating in Vietnam.

2025 a good year for Vietnam’s securities sector: SSC

2025 a good year for Vietnam’s securities sector: SSC

During the year, the SSC made significant progress in improving the legal and policy framework. Institutional work was implemented in a coordinated manner, including the issuance of two decrees, one resolution, seven circulars and three major schemes. At the same time, the regulator strengthened policy dialogue and expanded cooperation with international organisations to support the market upgrade process.

Vietnam shows strong FDI performance in the first 11 months of 2025 (Source: vtv.vn)

Vietnam shifting FDI attraction focus from volume to quality

As production relocation to Southeast Asia accelerates and competition for FDI intensifies, Vietnam faces increasing pressure from regional rivals such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia, which are offering bold tax incentives and developing specialised industrial parks. This reality requires Vietnam to shift its focus from attracting large volumes of capital to drawing high-quality investment, prioritising core technologies, innovation, value chain linkages and higher localisation rates.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Hoang Nguyen Dinh inspects IUU fishing prevention efforts at Hung Thai Port in Long Hai commune. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City steps up oversight of unqualified fishing vessels

HCM City currently has 4,475 fishing vessels, all of which have been registered and updated on the VNFishbase system. Among them, 4,268 vessels, or 95.37%, have been granted fishing licences, while 207 unqualified vessels are being strictly managed and kept ashore.

Airlangga Hartarto (fifth from right), Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, and CEO of VinFast Asia Pham Sanh Chau (sixth from right) at the plant opening ceremony on December 15. (Photo: VinFast)

VinFast inaugurates EV plant in Indonesia

The VinFast Subang plant was completed and put into operation just 17 months after groundbreaking, demonstrating the company's rapid execution capability and strong implementation capacity. This is VinFast's fourth operational facility worldwide, and its first plant in Indonesia and Southeast Asia outside of Vietnam.

From early December, major retail chains in Ho Chi Minh City have recorded a noticeable increase in shoppers seeking Tet products. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City businesses ramp up production to meet Lunar New Year demand

From early December, major retail chains in the city have recorded a noticeable increase in shoppers seeking Tet products. Many consumers are taking advantage of promotional programmes to purchase gift items with long shelf lives, such as confectionery, soft drinks and processed foods, well ahead of the holiday peak.

Workers process fish to be tinned for export at KTC Canned Food Factory under Kien Giang Trading JSC. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam to host seminar on export growth strategies

Vietnam's exports rose 16.1% to 430.2 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2025, while total trade hit 839.8 billion USD during the same period. This strong performance shows that exports remain a key driver of economic growth, boosting Vietnam's standing on the world stage in recent years.

The vessel carrying the 2 millionth TEU arrives at Hai Phong Port. (Photo:VNA)

Hai Phong Port reaches 2-million-TEU milestone

Handling the 2 millionth TEU in 2025 not only demonstrates Hai Phong Port’s operational capacity and the collective efforts of its workforce, but also highlights its increasingly important role in regional and global supply chains, the confidence of shipping lines, logistics firms and the business community, and the effectiveness of policies to improve the investment climate and strengthen maritime infrastructure and services.

Melons labelled with traceability codes on display at the Song Van agricultural produce store in Ninh Binh city, Ninh Binh province. (Photo: VNA)

Tracing origins hindered by fragmented data systems

As the Government accelerates the digital economy, establishing a unified national traceability system has become a crucial move to end data fragmentation and disconnection among ministries, sectors and localities.