French President Francois Hollande took a stroll in the Old Quarter in Hanoi (Source: VNA)
Paris (VNA) –🐎The ongoing State visit to Vietnam by French President Francois Hollande was covered by various French press outlets on September 6.
The articles affirmed that the visit aims to boost economic and trade ties between the two countries.
Le Monde (The World) daily newspaper published an article saying several important economic contracts were signed during the visit, the first by a French President since former President Jacques Chirac’s trip to the country in 2004.
After his arrival in Hanoi, on September 6, President Hollande and his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang witnessed the signing of two contracts and a memorandum of understanding between Airbus and Vietnamese airlines, the article said.
The budget carrier Jetstar Pacific, a joint venture between Vietnam Airlines and Australia’s Qantas Group, agreed to buy ten A320 CEO aircraft worth 1 billion USD from Airbus.
Vietjet Air also inked a contract to purchase 20 Airbus A321 aircraft.
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines signed a letter of intent to buy ten Airbus A350s. If the deal goes through, the order could be worth more than 3 billion USD.
The various contracts and letter of intent represent a cumulative amount of 6.5 billion USD, the article cited Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier as saying.
According to the article, various memoranda of understanding involving French companies were also reached, including between Vinci Concessions group and Vietnam Expressway Corporation, France’s National Centre for Space Study and the Academy of Science and Technology of Vietnam.
The article noted that with a growth rate of 6.7 percent in 2015, Vietnam is one of the most dynamic economies in Southeast Asia. Since 1990, the country’s gross domestic product per capita has tripled.
French exports to the Southeast Asian nation topped 1.4 billion USD last year, an increase of 85.3 percent against 764 million USD recorded in the previous year.
However, France’s trade deficit still stood at 2.7 billion EUR in 2015, mainly due to its purchase of phones and garments-textiles from Vietnam.
An article in Les Echos newspaper said Hanoi has become a preferred destination for foreign investors. Vietnam has become an export hub for many global multinational groups, especially in garments-textiles and electronics. Nearly 300 French companies are running projects in tourism, transportation, infrastructure, retail and health care in the country, the article said, adding that France ranks 17 th out of Vietnam’s commodity suppliers.
During his three-day visit, President Hollande held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Tran Dai Quang. He was received by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.-VNA
French President Francois Hollande’s visit to Vietnam will give an impulse to the countries’ strategic partnership to develop more substantively, President Tran Dai Quang told media on September 6.
French President Francois Hollande talked to students at the Vietnam National University-Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) on September 6 during his State visit to Vietnam from September 5-7.
Vietnam and France are stepping up efforts to deepen their strategic partnership, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said at a reception for visiting French President Francois Hollande.
The programme “Creative France”, which features the dynamism of France’s innovation and economic activity, was introduced to a press conference in Hanoi on September 6.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Thirty years ago, on July 28, 1995, Vietnam’s accession to ASEAN marked a historic strategic decision, opening a new chapter in the country’s integration process and beginning its strong rise.
Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang has outlined specific priorities and proposals for cooperation with the UNODA in preparation for the upcoming 11th Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
The Vietnamese Party leader's visit is therefore expected to mark a new stage in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, with a focus on such areas as digital transformation, supply chains, semiconductors, clean energy, and maritime security, Choe assessed.
At their meeting, which took place in the Angolan capital of Luanda on August 7 as part of State President Luong Cuong’s ongoing state visit to the African nation, the two officials also agreed to make full use of existing cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Vietnam – Angola Intergovernmental Committee, and step up exchanges of delegations at all levels.
President Luong Cuong's talks with his Angolan counterrpart João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Vietnamese leader's receptions for a delegation from the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, and the Government's regular meeting for July are among news highlights on August 7 evening.
Over the past five decades, the Vietnam - Angola relationship has grown steadily, marked by political trust and close bonds between their Parties, States, Governments, and peoples, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
President Luong Cuong called on the two countries to join hands to promote South – South cooperation, contribute to building a fair and equal global political and economic order, safeguard independence and sovereignty, and promote extensive and substantive international solidarity and cooperation.
President Luong Cuong called on the community to remain united, integrate well into local society, adhere to local laws, and continue contributing to both Angola’s development and Vietnam – Angola relations.
Vietnamese President Luong Cuong and Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Angola Carolina Cerqueira agreed to continue strengthening political trust, boost high-level delegation exchanges via all channels, including the parliamentary one, and create favourable legal conditions for bilateral cooperation.
French President Francois Hollande took a stroll in the Old Quarter in Hanoi (Source: VNA)
