A detachment of combat aircraft of the French Air Force is on a visit to Vietnam from August 26-28, the French Embassy in Vietnam announced at a press conference on August 27 in Hanoi.
A Dassault Aviation Rafale jet fighter performs during the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget near Paris on June 23, 2017. (Source: AFP)
Hanoi (VNA) - A detachment of combataircraft of the French Air Force ison a visit to Vietnam from August 26-28, the French Embassy in Vietnamannounced at a press conference on August 27 in Hanoi.
Speaking at the conference, General Patrich Charaix, Commander of the deploymentcode-named PEGASE 2018 said theFrench Air Force organised and coordinated the Mission Pegase in the Indo-Pacific region, with theinvolvement of three Dassault Rafale fighters, one Airbus A400M strategicairlifter, one Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker, and one Airbus A310 passengertransport aircraft.
The French Air Force mobilised 100 personnel for the deployment, he noted.
After taking partin the exercise Pitch Black (July 27 - August 17) in Australia, onits return journey to France, this squadron has been making visitsto Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and India, and the UnitedArab Emirates.
According to General Patrich Charaix, the visits aim to strengthenFrance’s presence in the region, contributing to deepening its relations withkey regional strategic countries.
They offered a good chance for France and the countries topromote exchange and experience sharing, as well as boost their future cooperationin military training.
The chargé d’affaires of the French Embassyin Hanoi, Olivier Sigaud said the squadron’s visit to Vietnam is part of activities tocelebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties(1973-2018), and the five years of their strategic partnership (2023-2018).
The event illustrates the dynamic France-Vietnam defence ties, he stressed.
Choosing Vietnam as a stop of the squadron shows that Francehighly values Vietnam’s importance and position in the bilateral cooperationbetween the two countries, he added.
The PEGASE 2018 is the largest French Air Force deployment tothe region since six Dassault Mirage 2000s were deployed to the region in 2004,where they also took part in an earlier iteration of Exercise Pitch Black.-VNA
The French Navy’s Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude and La Fayette-class frigate FS Surcouf with 713 officers and sailors on board began their five-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City on June 1.
Cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities is one of the pillars to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, heard a seminar in Paris on June25.
Business France and the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City organised the Vietnam-France forum on smart and sustainable urban areas on July 4.
Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh on August 7 received the outgoing French Defence Attaché in Vietnam Maj. Christophe Talon and his successor Lt. Maj. Marc Razafindranaly.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
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.
A Dassault Aviation Rafale jet fighter performs during the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget near Paris on June 23, 2017. (Source: AFP) 
