Brian Jeffrey
On the afternoon of June 26, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conducted meetings with the leadership of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) and the China Pacific Construction Group in Shanghai during his official visit to China.
During his discussion with COMAC Vice Chairman Shen Bo, PM Chinh learned about the company’s role in advancing China’s commercial aviation sector. COMAC is renowned for its C919 aircraft and is presently developing the ARJ21 model, in addition to its wide-body C929 project, which is projected to require an investment of up to 20 billion USD.
Shen urged Vietnam to support the operations of COMAC’s aircraft and facilitate cooperation with Vietjet. He also expressed a desire to enhance partnerships in areas such as aircraft maintenance, repair, manufacturing, and the production of equipment and spare parts.
PM Chinh commended COMAC for its remarkable progress in researching and developing advanced commercial aircraft, highlighting that these advancements diversify the global market for commercial aircraft and significantly contribute to the development of China’s aviation industry alongside high-tech scientific progress.
Congratulating COMAC on its growing trade relations with Vietnamese airlines, PM Chinh viewed this as a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration. He mentioned that Vietnam is actively working to improve its regulations and frameworks to foster the aviation sector’s growth, including simplifying processes and encouraging wider involvement from various economic sectors, while also enhancing decentralization and authority delegation to relevant parties.
For sustainable long-term collaboration, he welcomed and encouraged COMAC to engage with Vietnamese partners in establishing aircraft maintenance and repair services, promoting aircraft purchase and leasing agreements with airlines, facilitating human resources training, and exploring further cooperation in areas aligned with their expertise.
Later that afternoon, PM Chinh met with Yan Jiehe, the Chairman of the China Pacific Construction Group, a leading global enterprise specializing in infrastructure investment, construction, and management, involved in over 1,000 projects across China.
Yan informed PM Chinh that his organization had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hanoi People’s Committee for a five-year infrastructure investment initiative, valued in billions of USD. The group is currently active in Vietnamese projects, including the ongoing construction of the Tu Lien bridge in Hanoi, which was initiated after a prior meeting with PM Chinh in China.
He also updated the Prime Minister on the group’s investments and operations in Vietnam and proposed further involvement in major projects, particularly in expressway development, with a pledge to ensure these expressways become exemplary projects completed in half the expected time.
PM Chinh welcomed Yan’s proposals, commending the China Pacific Construction Group for its effective and sustainable business operations globally, especially in Vietnam.
He encouraged the group to maintain its excellent performance and prioritize the swift completion of ongoing projects. Additionally, he recommended that the group engage with Hanoi authorities and relevant agencies regarding potential participation in significant infrastructure initiatives, such as the road linking Gia Binh Airport to central Hanoi, the Ngoc Hoi bridge, and the urban railway line from Van Cao to Hoa Lac.
Furthermore, the PM promoted the use of public-private partnership (PPP) models in the extended sections of the North–South Expressway and in projects related to seaports, airports, railways, and urban rail systems in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, including the metro line connecting Long Thanh International Airport to Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Emphasizing Vietnam’s vigorous infrastructure development, the Government leader expressed hope that the group would commit to comprehensive, long-lasting investments in the country. He highlighted the significance of workforce training, establishing operational bases, conducting sustainable business practices, and competing fairly with other enterprises.
This concluded the activities of PM Chinh and the Vietnamese delegation during their trip to participate in the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum and for bilateral discussions in China. After the event, the Vietnamese delegation departed Shanghai and returned home.
