Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are paired with Milan (Italy) and Kosice (Slovakia), respectively, under the World Cities project launched by the European Union (EU) in Hanoi on June 12.
The project aims to promote the sharing of information and experience in building urban and regional development policies among the participating cities.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, said both EU and Vietnam have recognised that developing cities is an important factor in promoting sustainable development in the world.
The EU and its member nations pledged to cooperate with partners in the world to create cooperation opportunities among cities and boost experience exchanges as well as urban solutions to address challenges in sustainable development in partner countries.
During the event, senior officials from the four cities of Vietnam, Italy and Slovakia discussed initiatives for smart and green cities.
The World Cities project, worth 700,000 EUR is funded by the European Commission’s Department for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) in Brussels.
The project will be implemented in pilot cities with specific short-term cooperation agenda, including urban innovation (smart city), green technologies (energy efficiency, low carbon development).
Concrete actions will be decided upon by participating cities and regions with strong support from the project’s staff and in cooperation with DG REGIO and the EU delegations to the participating nations.
The project is expected to promote market opportunities and create jobs along with pursuing sustainable economic development in the cities, thus strengthening bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits.
The project has also been carried out in Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and the Republic of Korea.-VNA
VNA
