Latest news with #VietnamFranceRelations
NHK
27-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Vietnam, France agree to strengthen ties
Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam met French President Emmanuel Macron in Hanoi on Monday. They agreed to deepen ties in areas such as security, economic cooperation, and energy including nuclear power. Lam said in the meeting that, "It will surely create new trends and opportunities for cooperation for the comprehensive strategic partnership relations between us." Macron also reaffirmed France's strong desire to strengthen collaboration with Vietnam in all areas. Macron told reporters that they signed deals worth about 9 billion euros in areas such as defense, aviation, energy, and railways. This is Macron's first trip to Vietnam since taking office in 2017. Last year, Lam visited France. Hanoi aims to strengthen ties with the former colonial power as a third partner in addition to the US and China. Vietnam faces challenges in relations with the US and China. The Trump administration has threatened to impose 46 percent tariffs on Vietnam. Beijing is strengthening its presence in the South China Sea, where it has territorial disputes with Hanoi.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
France, Vietnam sign Airbus deal as Macron seeks to influence former colony facing US tariff threats
Read more on this: France and Vietnam signed a deal on May 26, 2025 for the Southeast Asian country to purchase 20 EU-made Airbus planes, among other pacts. The deal was signed as French President Emmanuel Macron visited Hanoi seeking to boost Paris' influence in its former colony grappling with threats of crippling US tariffs. Macron's visit, the first by a French president in nearly a decade, comes amid fears by the EU that export-dependent Vietnam, under pressure from Washington to buy more American goods and eager to avert 46 per cent US tariffs that could impair its growth, could make pledges to Washington that will be at the expense of the 27-nation bloc. In a statement to the press, Macron also reiterated France's support of freedom of navigation, an issue dear to Vietnam as it often clashes with Beijing over contested waters in the South China Sea.
Asharq Al-Awsat
26-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
France, Vietnam Sign Airbus, Satellite Deals as Macron Visits Hanoi
France and Vietnam signed a deal on Monday for 20 Airbus planes, among other pacts, as President Emmanuel Macron visited Hanoi seeking to boost France's influence in its former colony, grappling with threats of crippling US tariffs. Macron's first formal visit to Vietnam, the first by a French president in nearly a decade, follows US President Donald Trump's threats on Friday of 50% duties on EU goods from June that sharply fueled tension with the 27-nation bloc. Export-dependent Vietnam, under pressure from Washington to buy more American goods, has made pledges in trade talks to avert 46% tariffs that could impair its growth, fanning European concerns about deals at the region's expense, said AFP. Deals signed during Macron's visit covered the plane purchase, cooperation on nuclear energy, railways, Airbus earth-observation satellites and Sanofi vaccines, a list of documents seen by Reuters showed, confirming an earlier report. In statements to the press with no questions allowed, Macron reiterated France's support of freedom of navigation, an issue dear to Vietnam as it often clashes with Beijing over contested boundaries in the South China Sea. Macron added the partnership with Vietnam "entails a reinforced defense cooperation", citing the signing of multiple projects on defense and space. Vietnam's President Luong Cuong said the defense partnership involved "sharing of information on strategic matters" and stronger cooperation in the defense industry, cybersecurity and anti-terrorism. France ruled the Southeast Asian country for about 70 years until it was forced out in 1954 after a major defeat at Dien Bien Phu in northern Vietnam. Ties have improved in recent decades, being upgraded last year to Vietnam's highest level. On his trip, the first leg of a Southeast Asian tour that includes Indonesia and Singapore, Macron will visit a university in Hanoi on Tuesday, before flying to Jakarta, the Indonesian capital. AIRBUS The deal with European planemaker Airbus for Vietnam's low-cost airline VietJet to buy 20 A330neo wide-body aircraft follows last year's agreement for 20 of the jets. The signing followed urging by European officials in recent weeks for Vietnam to be careful in concessions made to the White House, two officials based in Vietnam with knowledge of the discussions had told Reuters, referring to concerns on Airbus. Airbus is the main supplier of jets to Vietnam, contributing 86% of its fleet, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows. A separate agreement with Airbus Defense was also signed during the visit for cooperation with Vietnam on earth-observations satellites. Airbus has long been in talks with Hanoi for the replacement of Vietnam's earth-observation satellite, built by Airbus' predecessor EADS and launched in 2013. With an economy heavily dependent on US exports, Vietnam has signaled the possible purchase of at least 250 Boeing planes by flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and rival VietJet. Officials of both nations have said such deals would help cut its huge trade surplus with the United States and possibly appease Trump. In talks with the United States, "Vietnam should make sure not to make decisions at the expense of European interests," one of the EU officials said. Vietnamese leaders have been advised such steps could jeopardize close ties with the EU, which has a free trade deal with Vietnam and is a major buyer of its goods, they added.
