Conference on Vietnamese-French local cooperation closes

At the conference, Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung briefed participants about the local socio-economic situation, foreign investors’ activities in Vietnam and Hanoi in particular, and answered questions from Toulouse investors and firms. 

He said trust between the two governments, business communities and peoples has been strengthened over the past 45 years, affirming that Hanoi will carefully study investors’ suggestions at the event. He also invited French and Toulouse investors to the capital city.  

Addressing the closing ceremony, NA Chairwoman Ngan said via locality-to-locality cooperation, many practical projects in the fields of urban management, environment, health care, education, culture, tourism, sustainable management have brought about positive results. 

She said the conference took place at a time when Vietnam and France recently celebrated the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of the signing of a joint statement on the establishment of bilateral strategic partnership in 2018. 

The top legislator noted that the five topical discussions at the conference are the core areas in Vietnam-France local cooperation in the current context. Facing changing challenges, Vietnamese and French localities should seek new directions and new driving forces for their relations, she said, adding that creativity and sustainability are the key for their effective and successful coordination in the future. 

Chairwoman Ngan expressed her belief that both sides will share new achievements in their joint work in the next meeting scheduled to take place in Hanoi in the next three years. 

First Vice President of the French Senate Philippe Dallier lauded collaboration between Vietnamese and French localities over the past three decades, which he said is among the typical examples for bilateral cooperation. 

According to him, issues discussed at the event, such as urban and sustainable development, and climate change prevention, are the challenges that the two countries must overcome in the years ahead. 

He noted that Toulouse has enhanced cooperation with Hanoi in specific projects on urban development, and affirmed that the French Senate always supports local administrations in their joint work with Vietnamese localities. 

During the event, cooperation agreements between Hanoi and Toulouse, and between the northern province of Yen Bai and Val de Marne were signed.