Hanoi (VNA) - Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu on March 14 met with Airbus Executive Vice President International Wouter van Wersch, during which the host official suggested Airbus expand its cooperation with Vietnam, especially in high-tech industries and human resource training.

Vu noted that Wouter's visit took place amid strong cooperation between Airbus and its Vietnamese partners. He highlighted the growing ties between Vietnam and key European strategic partners, including the UK, Germany, France, and Spain. In particular, Vietnam and France elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in October last year.

He highly valued Airbus's role and reaffirmed that economic cooperation remains a crucial pillar of relations between Vietnam and the European countries. He urged Airbus to continue promoting economic collaboration between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) and its member states. This includes maximising the benefits of the UK-Vietnam and EU-Vietnam free trade agreements and actively supporting the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement.

Welcoming Airbus's over 40-year presence in Vietnam, Vu emphasised that its projects with Vietnamese partners have contributed significantly to economic, scientific, and technological development. This collaboration has also strengthened multifaceted relations between Vietnam and European partners.

For his part, Wouter said he was impressed by Vietnam's rapid economic growth and advancements in science and technology, saying Vietnam remains a top-priority partner for Airbus in the region.

He highlighted Airbus’s strong desire to expand cooperation with Vietnamese partners in satellite technology, aerospace, helicopters, security and defence, rescue operations, science and technology, and education and training. He also affirmed Airbus’s commitment to supporting Vietnam in connecting with European and global partners in key sectors such as aviation technology, digital transformation, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence.

༺ Both sides acknowledged the vast potential for further cooperation, given Vietnam’s dynamic market of nearly 100 million people. They also exchanged views on several potential projects that could be implemented soon./.