The 12th conference on the cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities will kick off in Hanoi on Thursday, bringing together 50 cities and provinces in Vietnam along with 12 French localities.

The four-day conference is part of a series of events to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties and 10 years of strategic partnership between Vietnam and France.

Ngo Minh Hoang, director of the Hanoi Department of Foreign Affairs, told a press briefing to launch the conference on Tuesday that this year’s edition is centered on 'Cooperation between Localities: Boosting Post-COVID-19 Recovery and Sustainable, Comprehensive Development.'

More than 800 representatives from Vietnam and France will discuss sustainable urban development; water treatment and environmental protection; culture, heritage, and tourism; and smart city digitalization at four symposia.

Four pairs of Vietnamese and French localities will sign memoranda of understanding at the conference, Hoang said. 

Many programs will be organized within the framework of the conference, including the Vietnam-France economic forum, a cuisine festival called 'Balade en France' or 'Walking around France' in English, as well as exhibitions and seminars on culture and heritage.

A representative of the Hanoi Department of Public Security said that the police agency would ensure safety and security during the conference, identifying the task as one of its key duties this year.

The cooperation between localities, also known as decentralized cooperation between Vietnam and France, was set up in 1989, with the establishment of the Hanoi-Ile-de-France partnership.

The first conference on decentralized cooperation between Vietnam and France was hosted in Lille in 1996.

The conference is held every three years. Vietnam hosted the sixth, eighth, and 10th editions in Hue, Hai Phong, and Can Tho, respectively.

Over 33 cities and provinces in Vietnam and 24 French localities have been involved in 55 projects and deals.

These projects focus on the culture, language, tourism, heritage preservation, urban planning, education, and sustainability fields.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!