French President Emmanuel Macron presented the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, France's highest national award, to General Secretary, President To Lam on the afternoon of 10/9, TTXVN reported.

Established in 1802, the Legion of Honor includes five ranks: Grand Cross, Grand Officer, Commander, Officer, and Knight. France awards this esteemed state order for exceptional individual or organizational contributions.

French President Emmanuel Macron awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor to General Secretary, President To Lam, on 10/9. Photo: TTXVN

Earlier, President Macron and his spouse welcomed General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse at a ceremony at Invalides in Paris. Following the reception, the two leaders met with the press, engaged in discussions, and oversaw the signing of cooperation documents.

The leaders agreed to maintain regular high-level contacts across all channels, implement existing cooperation mechanisms, and explore deeper specialized collaboration to address evolving development needs.

General Secretary, President To Lam and President Macron further agreed to effectively advance and broaden cooperation in areas including: defense and security, economy, trade, science and technology, and education.

Vietnam and France forged a Strategic Partnership in 2013, elevating to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 10/2024. France holds the distinction of being the first EU nation to establish the highest level of relations with Vietnam.

Total bilateral trade between Vietnam and France is projected to reach approximately 6.3 billion USD in 2025, marking positive growth compared to 2024, according to data from Vietnam Customs.

France ranks 16th among 153 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, holding 746 active investment projects with a total registered capital of approximately 4 billion USD. Conversely, Vietnam maintains 20 active investment projects in France, representing a total registered capital of 38.78 million USD.

Ngoc Anh