On July 7th, 2023, UEB joined the VNU Faculty of French, Vietnam-France Friendship Association and Institute of European Studies under Vietnam Academy of Social Science to organize the Vietnam-France Economic Forum 2023 with the theme “Towards Sustainable and Green Development.” 

The conference serves as one of the events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France. It provides a platform for policymakers, businesses, and scholars to come together, exchange ideas, and propose plans aimed at elevating the Vietnam-France relationship to new heights through comprehensive and long-term development.

Attending the Forum, on the side of Government officials, there was Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga - Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Mr. Le Cong Thanh – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Leaders of the Departments under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

On the side of government officials, there were Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Giang (Head of European Commission of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations), Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang (Director of the Center for WTO and Integration - VCCI). On the side of embassies and international organizations, there were Mr. Nicholas Warnery (French Ambassador to Vietnam), Mr. Edgar Doerig (Asia-Pacific Chief Representative of Organization Internationale de la Francophonie), Ms. Sophie Mermaz (Head of Hanoi Office of French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam), and Mr. Alexandre de Navailles (General Director of KEDGE Business School), together with scientific research organizations, experts, researchers and representatives of associations and businesses.

On the side of VNU, there were Assoc. Prof. Pham Bao Son (Vice President), Assoc. Prof Nguyen Truc Le (Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the Board of Trustee of UEB), Assoc. Prof. Le Trung Thanh (Rector of UEB), Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Anh Thu (Vice-Rector of UEB), Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Chien Thang (Director of the Institute of European Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), alongside many universities’ leaders and lecturers as well as many domestic and international guest attending in person and online via Zoom.

"The subject of today's forum is the strategic socio-economic development of Vietnam and France," stated Assoc. Prof. Pham Bao Son in his opening speech. "Throughout the years, Vietnam and France have demonstrated unwavering commitment to environmental protection, sustainable resource utilization, and the advancement of green economic models and circular economy, leveraging modern technology. We have persistently worked towards establishing the necessary frameworks and infrastructure to create mutual development opportunities."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truc Le, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Council of the University of Economics and Business - VNU, highlighted the university's international recognition in research and training. The University of Economics and Business has been recognized as a key institution, a trailblazer, and a significant contributor to VNU's ranking results. Notably, it became the first Vietnamese public university to enter the Times Higher Education (THE) ranking, securing a position in the top 501-600 universities worldwide. He expressed confidence that the University of Economics and Business - VNU would continue to be a trusted partner for cooperation in education, research, and investment promotion between France and Vietnam.

"The Vietnam-France Economic Forum 2023 is expected to be a platform for sharing valuable experiences from French experts and businesses on sustainable and green development, as well as the issues, opportunities, and challenges that Vietnam is currently facing," stated Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Truc Le. "Through this forum, we aim to enhance understanding and foster relationships in various fields such as trade, investment, scientific and technological cooperation, culture, and education between France and Vietnam."

The forum included three presentations and roundtable discussions featuring contributions and recommendations from esteemed policymakers and social scientists from Vietnam and France. The presentations were as follows:

- “Economic relations between France and Vietnam: Challenges and Prospects” presented by Mr. Pierre Martin — Deputy Head of Economic Department, Embassy of France. 

- “Sustainable development and social responsibility in the higher education environment” presented by Mr. Alexandre de Navailles — General Director of KEDGE Business School in France. 

- “France’s green development policy and suggestions for Vietnam” presented by Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Chien Thang — Director of the Institute of European Studies under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. 

The roundtable discussions saw the active participation of experts and scientists from both France and Vietnam, including Mr. Pierre Martin (Deputy Head of Economic Department, Embassy of France), Prof. Dominique Laffly (Liason for Scientific and University Cooperation, Embassy of France), Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Chien Thang (Director of Institute of European Studies under Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences), Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang (Director of the Center for WTO and Integration VCCI), Mr. Thomas Hornet (Representative of Vietnam-France Friendship Association), Mr. Jérémie Buatier (Head of GEODIS Vietnam Logistics Department), Assoc. Prof To The Nguyen (Deputy Chair of Faculty of Political Economy, UEB-VNU), Dr. Dao Tung (Head of the Department of Student and Political Affairs, Faculty of French under VNU) as well as other representatives from French businesses in Vietnam.

During this session, experts focused on exchanging information and analyzing the current status and development of the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and France, with particular emphasis on economic cooperation, trade, and investment. They also drew policy suggestions for Vietnam based on the experiences and lessons learned from France. Some of the policy suggestions discussed were:

- Green Growth Policy: The French government encourages improving the energy efficiency of both light and heavy vehicles, aiming for a target of 4L/100km by 2030 for personal vehicles with internal combustion engines. 

- Green Finance Development: The French government strongly supports green finance through comprehensive subsidy programs, including tax support and financial instruments, with a clear climate strategy. France also prioritizes issuing Green Government bonds for all public investments. 

- Development of the circular economy: The French government emphasizes energy recovery from non-recyclable waste using existing technologies and specialized waste management facilities. 

- Job transformation in the green economy: France promotes training programs to create job opportunities in the green sector. An example is the "10Kverts" program launched by the French Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Vocational Training and Social Dialogue in 2018, which aims to integrate young people and job seekers into "green" occupations. 

During the discussions, numerous recommendations, policy implications, and practical initiatives were proposed and deliberated upon, aiming to enhance cooperation between Vietnam and France. These proposals were focused on strengthening economic, financial, and institutional resilience between the two nations.

The successful Vietnam-France Economic Forum 2023 not only reinforces the reputation and mission of the University of Economics and Business - Vietnam National University (UEB-VNU) as a hub for world-renowned researchers and scholars in the fields of Economics and Business Management but also plays a significant role in strengthening the relationship between Vietnam, France, and the European Union. The forum's accomplishments contribute to elevating this relationship to new heights and fostering comprehensive and sustainable development.