Vietnam Insider – Hanoi – French President Emmanuel Macron will arrive in Hanoi on May 25, marking the first visit by a French head of state to Vietnam in nearly a decade. The high-level trip is expected to reinvigorate France-Vietnam relations with a flurry of new agreements across sectors ranging from space technology to energy and infrastructure.
According to the Élysée Palace, dozens of deals are in the pipeline and could be signed during Macron’s visit, with officials confirming that around 30 agreements are currently under negotiation.
From Satellites to Sustainability
One notable agreement on the table involves the replacement of Vietnam’s Earth observation satellite, originally built by a predecessor of Airbus Defence and launched in 2013. While no binding contract has been confirmed, a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed, signaling a renewed partnership in space technology. Airbus has yet to comment but previously acknowledged it was working with Vietnam on next-generation satellite solutions.
France is also turning its focus toward energy cooperation, especially in renewable energy development under the EU-backed Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Macron’s visit may accelerate progress on green energy initiatives, a priority area for both nations as Vietnam ramps up its climate goals.
Discussions around nuclear energy are also advancing. While Russia and Japan currently appear to be leading talks in this area, France, the U.S., and South Korea have all expressed interest in cooperating with Vietnam on its civil nuclear ambitions.
Eyeing Infrastructure: High-Speed Rail
Infrastructure is another key topic, with France eyeing participation in Vietnam’s long-awaited North-South high-speed railway. The project, recently proposed by VinSpeed, has attracted global attention and could be one of Southeast Asia’s most transformative infrastructure investments.
A Regional Diplomatic Tour
Macron’s visit to Vietnam is part of a broader Southeast Asia tour that also includes Indonesia and Singapore. The tour underscores France’s strategic pivot to the Indo-Pacific, where it is seeking to strengthen economic ties and diplomatic influence amid growing regional competition.
With shared history, growing trade, and mutual interest in sustainable development, Macron’s trip to Vietnam is being closely watched as a potential turning point in bilateral relations.
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Source: Vietnam Insider