Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, made the proposal when receiving a senior delegation from Marseille, led by Deputy Mayor Jacques Rocca in the capital on April 24.

Ngoc said that the Hanoi People’s Committee has approved a plan to develop its health sector to 2020 and orientation towards 2030.

Under the plan, the city will build 10 top quality hospitals by 2015, and it needs help from outside investors.

Both cities should also strengthen cultural cooperation on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of bilateral ties, she added.

Deputy Mayor Rocca agreed with Ngoc’s proposal to boost cultural exchanges and encourage businesses to invest in the city’s infrastructure, transport management and conservation projects in the Old Quarter, as these are Marseille’s strong points.

Hanoi has now established relations with over 100 capitals and cities around the world, including many French cities. There are 57 French investors in Hanoi, with a total registered capital of almost US$180 million.