Over 800 representatives from Vietnamese and French localities, organizations and enterprises, as well as scientists, will attend the 10^th cooperation conference between Vietnamese and French localities in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho from September 14^th-16^th.

At the press conference (Photo: VNA)

The information was announced during a press conference about the event held by the city People’s Committee on September 5^th.

According to the organising committee, of the attendants, nearly 500 will come from 40 Vietnamese localities and over 300 from 13 French regions and 44 French organizations.

The conference will provide a chance for enterprises from the two countries to seek cooperation in five key areas: economics and tourism; education and healthcare; environment, climate change, agriculture and fisheries; urban development; and culture and heritage.

A wide range of activities will also take place on the sidelines of the conference, including a discussion on investment and trade promotion held on September 15 which will involve calling foreign direct investment (FDI) into 52 projects with a capital of over USD7.3 billion.

In addition, the Vietnam – France culture days organised from September 15^th-17th will cover Vietnamese and French art exchanges, a photo exhibition, a book exhibition, food exchange, film presenting and an introduction about Can Tho city tourism. Meanwhile, a Vietnam – France trade fair held from September 15th to 17^th will present Vietnamese and French goods in 300 stalls.

Addressing the press conference, Truong Quang Hoai Nam, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee and Head of the organising committee for the 10^th cooperation conference between Vietnamese and French localities, said that the conference had been expressed to make active contribution to reinforce the relations between the two countries, as well as to the socio-economic development of localities, especially Vietnamese localities. “The conference promises to be a significant event to further strengthen the Vietnam – France strategic partnership and continue to open up opportunities for localities, organizations and inpiduals from the two sides to expand cooperation in perse areas,” he added.

The first cooperation conference between Vietnamese and French localities was held in 1996 in France’s Lille city. Since 2005, the conference has been held every 2-3 years by Vietnamese and French localities. Can Tho city is the third Vietnamese locality to organise the conference, following Thua Thien – Hue province (the 6^th conference) and Hai Phong city (the 8^th conference).

There are currently 19 French localities carrying out cooperation projects across 17 Vietnamese localities, focusing in healthcare, education, the French language, culture – heritage, the building of urban traffic infrastructure, rural development, science and technology, environment, clean water and hygiene./.

( Compiled by VNF )