Vietnam – Conversation between Jean-Yves Le Drian and his counterpart (23 July 2021)

Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke by phone today with his counterpart, Bui Thanh Son.

The ministers discussed several issues addressed at the UN Security Council where Vietnam holds a seat until the end of the year. They notably shared their concerns regarding the situation in Myanmar and reaffirmed the need to implement, as swiftly as possible, the five-point consensus agreed upon by ASEAN in April. In this respect, the minister reaffirmed the commitment of France and the EU, which adopted a third round of sanctions against the Myanmar regime at the Foreign Affairs Council on June 21.

The ministers reaffirmed their attachment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region that respects international law, based on the principle of the freedom of navigation reaffirmed in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Jean-Yves Le Drian reiterated France’s willingness to engage more with ASEAN, which is a key organization in this region, and thanked Vietnam in this regard.

At the bilateral level, the ministers pledged to strengthen the strategic partnership between our two countries through key concrete cooperation initiatives. Lastly, they underscored the importance of our long-standing and multifaceted cooperation in the health sector.