French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte attend a state dinner hosted by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong at the International Convention Center in Hanoi on Monday. Pic/AFP
Macron signed over a dozen agreements covering defence, nuclear power, and trade, including a deal with Vietnamese budget airline VietJet and Airbus for the purchase of 20 A330-900 aircraft
Macron stated that France has shown its commitment to defending international maritime law by deploying the French carrier strike group to the South China Sea in early 2025
The visit takes place amid escalating trade tensions, with the US threatening steep tariffs on European goods. In April, Vietnamese imports to the US faced tariffs as high as 46 percent, among the highest globally
Macron further stated that France would support Vietnam in crucial sectors such as critical minerals, high-speed rail, civil nuclear energy, and aerospace. He emphasised partnering with Vietnam to aid its transition from coal power towards expanding renewable energy and civil nuclear power capacity
Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet, wife of Vietnam's President Luong Cuong, presented a floral scarf to Brigitte Macron during the state dinner. France and Vietnam maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership
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