Sustainable development and recovery in the post-pandemic phase will be the theme of the 12th Vietnam-France decentralized cooperation conference to be held in Hanoi on April 13-15.

An old French mansion in the Old Quarters of Hanoi. Photo: Doan Thanh/The Hanoi Times

The conference, hosted by Hanoi, will be an opportunity for local authorities from Vietnam and France to discuss and promote relations in environmental protection, water management, smart city development and digitalization, sustainable urban development, and culture, heritage and tourism.

Participants and visitors will also enjoy a series of activities to strengthen ties between Vietnamese and French localities, including a trade fair with 100-120 booths showcasing outstanding Vietnamese products and introducing Vietnamese cultural features and tourism sites. In addition, 50 French enterprises in the fields of hospitality, accommodation, agriculture and food will participate in the "Balade en France" festival to introduce French cuisine and food production technologies.

The event will also feature a Vietnam-France Business Forum, joint meetings of localities and businesses from both sides, art performances, and a photo exhibition on Vietnam-France relations.

In particular, visitors and participants will have the opportunity to visit famous places in Hanoi that result from cooperation between Hanoi and French organizations, such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter, and old French villas.

As one of the key activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations (1973-2023) and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, Hanoi and relevant parties expect the conference to attract 800 high-ranking government officials and business and organization leaders from both sides.

The capital hopes the conference will promote Vietnamese and Hanoi's cultures, products and services.

Hanoi leads Vietnam-France decentralized cooperation 

Decentralized cooperation between Vietnam and France began in 1989 between Hanoi and the Ile-de-France region. In 1996, the French city of Lille hosted the first Vietnam-France localities conference.

Over the past 30 years, Vietnam-France decentralized cooperation has made strong development and facilitated the establishment of relations between more than 30 French localities and their 20 Vietnamese counterparts.

Partnership projects between Vietnamese and French authorities focus on culture, language, tourism, heritage preservation, water management and environmental protection, urban planning and management, education and training, research and development, vocational training, health care, sustainable development, and agricultural and rural development.

Long Bien Bridge, an infrastructure built in the early 1900s during the French colonial. Photo: Viet Dung/The Hanoi Times

The conference is held every three years, with Vietnamese and French localities taking turns hosting the event. It is the chance for both sides to discuss difficulties, evaluate the results in bilateral relations, and deliver feasible solutions to foster their partnerships, thus strengthening the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France.