Vietnam, US sign cooperation agreements worth US$21 billion

ABO/NDO - Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and President Donald Trump witnessed the signing of four cooperation agreements between Vietnam and the US with a total value of about US$21 billion in Hanoi on February 27.

The signing of Vietnam-US economic cooperation agreements worth US$21 billion in total. (Photo: VNA)

Vietjet Air and Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA) have inked a contract worth US$12.7 billion for 100 new 737 MAX planes according to list prices.

Vietjet Air President and CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and BCA President and CEO Kevin McAllister signed the deal on February 27, witnessed by Party General Secretary and President of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Donald Trump.

 

Kevin McAllister said the BCA is pleased to expand its partnership with Vietjet Air and contribute to the carrier’s growth, adding that the new and state-of-the-art airplanes such as the 737 MAX will help Vietjet grow more efficiently and bring great travel experiences for its passengers.

 

The strong growth of Vietjet and the country’s aviation sector has helped stimulate travel within Vietnam and connecting Vietnam with the rest of Asia, he said, adding that Boeing is proud to support this economic development, which in turn supports engineering and manufacturing jobs in the US.

 

In 2016, Vietjet Air signed an order for 100 B737 MAX planes with Boeing - the biggest commercial aircraft deal in Vietnam’s aviation industry. It is now the largest B737 MAX customer in Asia.

 

The same day, Vietjet Air and the US’s General Electric Group signed a US$5.3 billion agreement on long-term service maintenance of LEAP-1B engine. The agreement includes the provision of backup engines and service packages for the new and modern aircraft that the airline had ordered.

 

* Bamboo Airways, Vietnam’s newest carrier, signed a nearly US$3 billion contract to buy 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner wide-body jets with the US group on February 27.

 

Last June, the carrier, owned by property developer FLC Group, also signed a deal to buy 20 Boeing 787-9 planes worth US$5.6 billion. The first planes are expected to be handed over to the carrier in the third quarter of 2020.

 

Bamboo Airways is considering the purchase of 25 Boeing 737 Max narrow-body jets with an estimated value of US$2.5 billion.