France's Macron on a visit to Vietnam urges for greater cooperation in defense and trade

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron called on Monday for closer cooperation between Vietnam and France in an increasingly unstable global landscape as he visited Hanoi as part of a Southeast Asia tour focused on strengthening regional ties.

Macron emphasized the need for “an order based on law” at a time of ”both great imbalance and a return to power-driven rhetoric and intimidation.” He next heads to Indonesia and Singapore.

The visit comes amid trade tensions, with the U.S. threatening steep tariffs on goods from Europe. Vietnamese imports to the United States were hit with 46% tariffs — among the highest rates applied to any country — in April.

Macron signed more than a dozen agreements on defense, nuclear power and trade, including one with the Vietnamese budget airline company VietJet and Airbus to buy 20 A330-900 planes.

He paid tribute at a Hanoi war memorial to those who fought the French colonial rulers and met with his counterpart Luong Cuong, as well as Communist Party general secretary To Lam.

Macron also visited the 11th century Temple of Literature in the heart of the Vietnamese capital.

France and Vietnam's “sovereignty partnership” could be the central axis of France’s approach in the Indo-Pacific, Macron said.

France has demonstrated its “desire to defend international maritime law” when it deployed the French carrier strike group in the South China Sea in early 2025, Macron said.

China and Vietnam have long had a maritime agreement governing the Gulf of Tonkin, but have been locked in competing claims in the South China Sea over the Spratly and Paracel Islands and maritime areas.

Macron said France would also support Vietnam in key sectors, including critical minerals, high-speed rail, civil nuclear energy and aerospace, and focus on partnering with the Asian nation to help it transition away from dirty coal power while adding new capacity in renewable energy and civil nuclear power.

This is Macron's first trip to Vietnam since he took office in 2017.

France and Vietnam share a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam’s highest diplomatic status, also held with Russia, China, and the U.S.

French President Emmanuel Macron beats a drum at Van Mieu temple during a luncheon with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam during Macron's first official trip to the country, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday, May 26, 2025. (Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool Photo via AP)

Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, as his wife, Brigitte Macron, looks on, ahead of a luncheon at Van Mieu, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday May 26, 2025. (Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron looks at a display of photographs at a luncheon with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam at Van Mieu, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday May 26, 2025. (Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool via AP)

Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam and his wife, Ngo Phong Ly, with French President Emmanuel Macron, center right, and his wife Brigitte Macron, center left, pose for a photo with traditional dance performers during a luncheon at Van Mieu, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday May 26, 2025. (Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, attends a luncheon with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary To Lam at Van Mieu, in Hanoi, Vietnam, Monday May 26, 2025. (Chalinee Thirasupa/Pool via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A shooting outside a church building in Salt Lake City killed two people and injured six others Wednesday, police said.

The shooting took place in the parking lot of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

Dozens of people were attending a funeral inside at the time. All the victims were adults.

Police said they do not believe the shooter had any animus toward a particular faith.

“We don’t believe this was a targeted attack against a religion or anything like that,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said.

Police also do not believe the shooting was random. Authorities said no suspect was in custody.

About 100 law enforcement vehicles were at the scene in the aftermath, and helicopters flew overhead.

“This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life,” Mayor Erin Mendenhall said.

The church was cooperating with law enforcement and was grateful for efforts first responders' efforts, a spokesperson said.

“We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind,” Sam Penrod said in a statement.

The church is headquartered in Salt Lake City, and about half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents are members of the faith. Churches like the one where the shooting occurred can be found in towns throughout the city and state.

The faith has been on heightened alert since four people were killed when a former Marine opened fire in a Michigan church last month and set it ablaze. The FBI found that he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the church.

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

People hug each other after a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

Funeral attendees leave a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a fatal shooting in the parking lot in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Laura Seitz/The Deseret News via AP)

Police respond to a fatal shooting in a parking lot of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Rio Giancarlo/The Deseret News via AP)