PM asks China giant Comac to make components, aircraft in Vietnam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has suggested Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (Comac) manufacture components and aircraft, and cooperate with partners to invest in aircraft warranty, maintenance and repair centers in Vietnam.

In a meeting with He Dongfeng, chairman of Comac on Monday, the Vietnamese cabinet leader also suggested the Chinese giant support Vietnam in developing the aviation economy as well as exploiting and developing Vietnam's outer space.

He Dongfeng is visiting and working in Vietnam on the occasion of the state visit to Vietnam by China's Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.

According to the Vietnamese PM, during the Chinese top leader's visit to Vietnam, the two sides will discuss many important issues for bilateral future development and sign many important documents, including cooperation in the aviation sector.

Chinh said that the Party and State of Vietnam always encourage large enterprises which represent China's high levels of science and technology to invest or expand investment in transport infrastructure in Vietnam, including aviation.

On that basis, the Vietnamese Government is ready to facilitate airlines in organizing and exploiting routes between Vietnam and other countries, contributing to the development of trade, tourism, and socio-economic development.

The Prime Minister said he highly values the effective cooperation between Comac and Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet and looks for cooperation between Comac and other Vietnamese airlines or partners in the future.

The Vietnamese leader proposed that Comac cooperate and support Vietnamese partners in developing aircraft fleets and expanding flight routes; moving towards manufacturing components and aircraft as well as developing the aviation ecosystem and the aviation economy; training high-quality human resources; and exploiting Vietnam's space.

The Prime Minister also suggested that along with cooperation in purchasing and leasing aircraft, Comac cooperate with partners to invest in aircraft warranty, maintenance, and repair centers in Vietnam.

In response, Comac chairman He Dongfeng said that after only 17 years, Comac has become a prestigious and large aircraft manufacturer.

Affirming that he will strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese partners like what PM Chinh suggested, the Comac chairrman said he hopes that the cabinet leader will regularly pay attention, support, and direct Vietnamese partners to expand the scale of cooperation with Comac, not only in developing air transport but also toward developing the aviation industry in Vietnam.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Shanghai, Comac had provided 160 C909 aircraft to the market as of early January 2025, with customers mainly from China.

In a statement last month, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said it was looking for legal framework updates from authorities this year to approve the operation of China’s Comac aircraft.

The CAAV said to fly Comac aircraft in Vietnam, the authorities must update Decree 92/2016 on conditional business sectors or activities in the civil aviation industry and Circular 01/2011 on civil aviation safety regulations.

The CAAV proposed changes to the lawmaking program 2025 to facilitate the move, according to the statement.

In November 2024, Comac said it had been partnering with Vietjet to operate its self-made airplanes in Vietnam as the former looks to tap the Southeast Asian country’s fast-growing aviation market.

In December 2024, Vietjet disclosed that it had been working with the Ministry of Transport (now the Ministry of Construction) and the CAAV to “wet lease” two Comac ARJ21 aircraft to operate some flights in Vietnam.