French Ambassador Olivier Brochet annouced during his meeting with Hanoi Mayor Tran Sy Thanh this Tuesday that a joint Franco-German project, backed by an €8 million operational fund, is set to tackle Hanoi's air quality challenges.

Hanoi Mayor Tran Sy Thanh welcomed French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet on January 14. Photo: Xuan Hai

"Experts from the French Institute for Research and Development (IRD) have already worked with Hanoi University of Science and Technology (USTH) to install monitor stations for air quality research", the ambassador said, adding that "the research team is open to collaborating with local authorities to ensure the project's success".

Brochet also expressed his delight at being able to attend the inauguration of the elevated section of Metro Line 3. He reaffirmed France's commitment to resolving legal challenges and proposed a post-Lunar New Year meeting to find collaborative solutions among stakeholders.

The meeting also covered other areas of cooperation, including the upcoming Balade en France festival scheduled for March 28-30, 2025, at Thong Nhat Park. This year's event will feature participation from French-speaking countries and showcase French educational opportunities.

The two sides also discussed progress on the agricultural wholesale market project, with the French company Semmaris reaching preliminary agreements with Viettel Post on supply chain operations.

The ambassador concluded by announcing French President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to Vietnam in late May 2025, which is expected to strengthen bilateral relations through new cooperation agreements.

Mayor Tran Sy Thanh said he took serious note of the French ambassador's ideas, especially the comprehensive research on pollution causes and the timely completion of the urban railway project by 2027. He instructed relevant municipal departments to facilitate these collaborative efforts.