Hanoi and the Ile-de-France region has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) prioritising cooperation work on urban planning, tourism promotion, heritage preservation, public transport development, water supply and drainage, solid waste management and environment protection.

The MoU, reached during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s recent visit to France , will be realised through training, research and consultations.

In the future, the two sides will also boost their economic connectivity by organising meetings among businesses of both sides and designing projects allowing the Ile-de-France region to share its experience and technology and engage more in the modernisation and development of Hanoi .

Accordingly, a delegation from Ile-de-France will be sent to Hanoi from October this year to work on a bilateral urban development cooperation project (IMV) first launched in 2001.

Leaders of the two sides also agreed on the implementation of a series of projects in the prioritised fields, including the construction of a top quality interchange at Nhon station on the urban railway line No. 3 to set a model on public space planning and information supplying for passengers.

In addition, the two sides also planed to organise a number of cultural events and meetings among businesses in 2013 and 2014 as part of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-France diplomatic ties.-VNA