Vietnam Seeks Enhanced Transport Cooperation with France
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged France to strengthen business cooperation and investment in Vietnam’s transport sector, particularly in large-scale infrastructure projects. The call was made during his reception on Friday in Hanoi for Philippe Tabarot, French Delegate for Transport under the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion.
Both leaders commended the strong progress in bilateral transport cooperation, noting that Airbus has become the leading aircraft supplier to Vietnamese airlines and that the elevated section of the Nhổn – Hanoi Station metro line is now operational.
Highlighting Vietnam’s strategic emphasis on transport infrastructure, the Prime Minister underscored its role as one of the nation’s three key development priorities. He outlined major ongoing projects covering roads, railways, aviation, maritime, and inland waterways, which are expected to unlock new development zones, spur industrial and urban growth, and reduce logistics costs—currently accounting for 17-18 per cent of the country’s GDP. Such improvements, he noted, would enhance Việt Nam’s overall economic competitiveness.
PM Chính encouraged French enterprises to expand their presence in Vietnam by investing in critical infrastructure projects. He specifically urged Airbus to collaborate with Vietnamese airlines to establish a maintenance and repair hub at local airports. Additionally, he advocated for deeper cooperation in aviation economy development, space exploration, underground infrastructure, and maritime logistics. He also invited French firms to participate in railway and seaport projects, expand large-vessel operations, and open new direct transport routes to Vietnam.
The Prime Minister proposed enhanced collaboration in workforce training, technology transfer, improved management practices, and concessional financing to drive the transport sector’s development. He expressed confidence that the complementary strengths of both economies would foster deeper cooperation, urging both sides to build on past achievements with sincerity, trust, and efficiency. He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to addressing institutional obstacles to expedite project implementation.
Minister Tabarot praised Vietnam’s rapid growth and development milestones. He noted his productive discussions with the Vietnamese Minister of Construction and emphasized France’s cooperation with Vietnamese authorities in organizing the Vietnam-France High-Speed Rail Workshop during his visit.
He reiterated France’s extensive expertise in the transport sector and pledged that France and its enterprises stand ready to support Vietnam in developing strategic infrastructure projects. He highlighted their commitment to fostering talent development, sharing technological expertise, and providing high-quality services that enhance connectivity and benefit both nations, in alignment with Prime Minister Chính’s proposals.
