France’s Macron arrives in Vietnam for Southeast Asia tour

Throughout his six-day journey which incorporates Indonesia and Singapore Macron will underscore his respect for the sovereignty of Asian international locations “caught between the USA and China”, a presidential aide stated throughout a pre-tour briefing.

The French president is because of meet Vietnam’s prime management on Monday within the capital Hanoi and key power sector gamers on Tuesday.

Macron is hoping to showcase France’s experience in civil nuclear energy in Vietnam and Indonesia, that are eager to embrace this type of power, though different international locations together with Russia are additionally within the operating for offers.

France’s willingness “to have interaction assertively in Indo-Pacific geopolitics provides Vietnam a helpful counterweight to China’s rising affect”, stated Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

In Indonesia, Macron will maintain talks with the secretary common of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations , Kao Kim Hourn, on Wednesday.

Macron’s aide stated the president is “defending the concept of worldwide commerce guidelines, we do not need a jungle the place the legislation of the strongest prevails”.

The aide added that Macron’s message is geared toward each Washington, which is exerting “extraordinarily sturdy strain” through US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and Beijing, which is changing into more and more aggressive on each commerce and territorial disputes, notably within the South China Sea.

Earlier than his departure, Macron held talks with Chinese language chief Xi Jinping calling for “honest competitors” between each international locations.

And in Singapore on Friday, Macron will give the opening speech on the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest discussion board on safety and defence.

He’s anticipated to press that Russia’s battle in Ukraine is destabilising Asia by “making North Korean troopers struggle on European soil in opposition to Ukrainians and by supporting North Korea’s ballistic and nuclear programmes”, the presidential aide stated.

Macron can be eager to counter the view of a European and Western “double normal” between the battle in Ukraine and the battle in Gaza.

“We absolutely perceive the sensitivities of Muslim communities within the area,” the aide stated, including that Macron is “significantly dedicated” to reaching peace within the Center East.

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