Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Wouter van Wersch, Executive Vice President International of Airbus at the meeting in Paris on June 11. — VNA/VNS Photo

PARIS — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính held working sessions on Wednesday with several French corporations and enterprises to promote cooperation and investment in areas such as aerospace, information technology, pharmaceuticals, railways, and energy, as part of his bilateral activities in France.

Meeting with Wouter van Wersch, Executive Vice President International of Airbus, the PM spoke highly of the group's successful cooperation with Vietnamese partners, including the VNREDSat-1 satellite project. He proposed Airbus expand its aviation cooperation with Việt Nam through aircraft purchase agreements with reasonable pricing and timely delivery. He also called on the group to transfer technology to Vietnam, help human resources training, and aircraft warranty and maintenance.

He suggested long-term cooperation in research and production of aircraft components, and space exploration.

Wouter expressed his wish to continue cooperating with Vietnam Airlines in modernising its fleet, while proposing further collaboration in space technology, particularly by providing advanced optical satellite solutions to build on the success of the VNREDSat-1 project, and partnerships in using energy-efficient and environmentally friendly fuels, as well as in developing artificial intelligence (AI).

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Philippe Bardol, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, International & Public Affairs at Safran. — VNA/VNS Photo

The PM received Philippe Bardol, Senior Vice President Asia Pacific, International & Public Affairs at Safran, who briefed his firm’s production and business activities. Bardol said that Safran Group began operations in Việt Nam in 1994 and officially opened its representative office in 1997.

The group supplies engines and equipment to airlines such as Vietjet, Vietravel, and Bamboo Airways, and is involved in Vietnam Airlines’ purchase project of 50 aircraft. During Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm's visit to France in October 2024, Safran signed an US$8 billion contract with Vietjet Air for the sale and maintenance of CFM engines for 200 Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

The Safran side proposed areas of cooperation in the aviation industry, including plans for airport development and aviation infrastructure, as well as in key industries that Việt Nam prioritises.

PM Chính highly valued Safran’s effective business cooperation activities in Việt Nam, and shared several strategic development orientations of the country in the aviation and aerospace sectors. He called on Safran to support the development of these industries in Việt Nam in the coming time, proposing the group coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant agencies and partners to concretise cooperation activities and consider the feasibility of future projects aligned with Việt Nam's technological demand and orientation.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) and a leader from Thales Group. — VNA/VNS Photo

The Vietnamese leader also had a working session with a leader from Thales Group, a world’s leading tech firm in big data, AI, positioning technology, cybersecurity, and quantum technology. The French conglomerate employs over 81,000 people globally and has maintained operations in Việt Namsince 1994.

Thales executive expressed her interest in expanding investment cooperation in Việt Nam, particularly in telecommunications satellite development and cybersecurity initiatives.

PM Chính welcomed Thales' proposals for technological partnership and acknowledged the company's efforts to develop relationship with domestic enterprises, contributing to enhanced local capacity and facilitating technology transfer. He asked Thales to work with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies on specific project proposals, requiring clear details on objectives, scale, technology applications, and equipment deployment.

He stressed that Việt Nam always accompanies and creates the best conditions for foreign firms, including Thales, to develop their investment – business operations in the country in a stable, long-term, and sustainable manner and with a spirit of harmonious benefit and shared risk.

The PM also met with leaders of Alstom Group which ranks among the world's leading transportation solution providers.

Astom, founded in 1928, has been present in Việt Nam for more than three decades, contributing to the country’s infrastructure development such as railway signaling and telecommunications system modernisation plan and the provision of core electrical and mechanical equipment systems for Hà Nội Metro Line 3 (Nhổn – Hà Nội Station).

The group expressed its interest in accelerating construction progress for the second phase of Hà Nội Metro Line 3, HCM City Metro Line 2, and additional new lines through 2035 with a vision to 2045. Alstom also seeks participation in the proposed Hà Nội – HCM City high-speed railway project and stands ready to share high-speed rail technology as well as collaborate with Vietnamese enterprises to develop the national railway industry.

Welcoming the proposals, Chính stressed that cooperation with France is a crucial component in carrying out Việt Nam's new railway projects. He requested that the corporation work with the Ministry of Construction and competent enterprises and units to implement specific initiatives.

He requested the corporation to provide Việt Nam with technology transfer, preferential lending, and workforce training in the railway sector.

During his meeting with Bernard Fontana, Chairman and CEO of EDF, the PM was briefed that the French energy group has operated in Việt Nam since 2000. It has completed the Phú Mỹ 2 thermal power plant and is currently participating in the Sơn Mỹ 1 gas-fired power plant project. EDF expressed its interest in expanding cooperation in nuclear power, renewable energy, as well as in areas such as telecommunications and artificial intelligence (AI).

EDF is a multinational energy group majority-owned by the French government. It is the world's leading operator of nuclear power, the top renewable energy producer in Europe, and the first CO2-free electricity producer globally.

Welcoming EDF's proposals, Chính encouraged the group to partner with Petrovietnam, Viettel, and other stakeholders to implement joint initiatives. Regarding the nuclear power project, he suggested EDF work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant partners to clarify technologies, funding sources, and human resources development.

The PM also received Rafik Amrane, Vice President of Opella, the world’s third-largest enterprise in over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements, with a value of EUR190 billion (over $218 billion). Amrane said Opella Vietnam currently operates commercial offices, a factory, and an R&D centre in the country, and expressed the group's desire to expand its investment in Việt Nam.

Praising the company's business performance and welcoming its expansion plans, Chính urged Opella to accelerate technology transfer, workforce training, and the use of locally sourced materials. He encouraged the group to scale up production not only for the domestic market but also for broader regional markets such as Southeast Asia, China, Australia, and the Pacific.

The Vietnamese leader called on Opella to swiftly coordinate with Vietnamese authorities and partners to fast-track project implementation. He noted that Việt Nam is amending relevant laws and regulations to increase mutual recognition of quality inspection results for imports from countries and regions with high technical standards, while streamlining administrative procedures, reducing compliance time and costs for businesses and investors. — VNA/VNS