Ho Chi Minh City and the French city of Lyon will work closely together on heritage preservation, urban planning, green growth and artistic lighting, which are fields of mutual interest.

The plans were discussed by Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem and Vice Mayor of Lyon Gilles Buna in HCM City on March 17.

Liem hailed bilateral connections in culture, education and health care in the past. Lyon has actively assisted HCM City in artistic lighting over historical and cultural sites across the city, he added.

Liem expressed hope that Lyon will facilitate Vietnam, and HCM City in particular to organise Vietnam Year in France, including a HCM City cultural week in Rhone Alpes region.

Buna said both cities have reaped substantial cooperative results since they established a partnership nearly 20 years ago.

Besides cooperation in urban planning and transport, the two sides can cooperate in preserving public landscapes and greenery and protecting the environment, especially heritage sites, he added.-VNA