Co-operation between Vietnamese and French localities bright spot in joint ties
VOV.VN - In the fields of co-operation between the nation and France, links between localities of the two countries has become a bright spot in terms of bilateral ties, Dinh Tien Dung, secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, said at the 12th Vietnam-France decentralised cooperation conference which opened in Hanoi on April 14.
France is the only country in Vietnam that has a mechanism of periodic and rotating local conferences.
At present, over 38 French localities at all levels and 18 Vietnamese provinces and cities have participated in this mechanism, with 240 co-operation projects running between localities of the two countries. These mainly focus on the health sector, education, water and sanitation, heritage conservation, the Francophone community, as well as rural and sustainable development.
Tran Sy Thanh, chairman of the capital People’s Committee, stressed the conference’s large scale in a series of events marking the 50th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic ties and a decade of their strategic partnership.
Highlighting local collaboration as a driving force behind sustainable and comprehensive recovery, as well as post-COVID development, the conference is expected to foster ties and seek effective solutions to current global challenges. The number of members participating in the event is at some 800 government officials, business executives, and organisation leaders.
French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery said the event is highly symbolic, and expected to create a fresh impetus for the relationship between the two countries.
The diplomat said he welcomes increasing joint co-operation in areas such as cultural heritage value preservation and promotion, wastewater treatment, and climate change.
On April 14 and April 15, four panel discussions are scheduled to take place, considering the topics of sustainable urban areas; environment, water and waste treatment; culture, heritage, and tourism; and smart city and digitisation.
On the sidelines of the event will be a French festival, a Vietnam-France economic forum, an art programme, and many exhibitions which will put bilateral ties in the spotlight.
Hanoi also plans the organisation of city tours which will take foreign visitors to popular places throughout the capital. Sites include those which have witnessed a long history between the two nations, including Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter, and old French villas.
Co-operation between Vietnamese and French communities dates back to the 1990s.
The conference has been held every two or three years since 1996, with Vietnamese and French localities taking turns to host the event.
It represents a chance for both sides to discuss difficulties, evaluate the results in bilateral ties, and devise feasible solutions aimed at reinforcing their partnerships, thereby boosting diplomatic ties between the two nations.