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.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
French President Francois Hollande took a stroll in the Old Quarter in Hanoi (Source: VNA)
