The Hanoi Joint Declaration was issued when the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC 21) wrapped up their 12th annual plenary meeting in the Vietnamese capital city on November 19, covering stronger cooperation in urban planning, energy issues, trade and tourism promotion, and information sharing.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao said delegates have consented to deploy the project on building a platform for technology and industry, under which they will hold expert-level meetings and economic exchanges as agreed in the 2010 Tokyo Joint Declaration.

A pilot scheme will be rolled out to put short-term measures in place, he added.

Seminars on investment, trade and tourism promotion drew hordes of investors from member nations. They came to seek cooperation opportunities and foster connectivity for the sake of a prosperous Asia.

Thao and Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose later signed a Hanoi – Tokyo cooperation agreement, under which, the Japanese city will assist Hanoi in easing smog and traffic congestion, clean water supplies, training for athletes and students.

Seoul city in the Republic of Korea also promised to help Hanoi with information technology development.

During two policy dialogue sessions, Hanoi acquired expertise in dealing with obstacles in urban planning and energy.

ANMC members reached a compromise on sustaining collaboration in socio-economic development and planning management in particular.

While countries worldwide are working against climate change by developing their economies with low carbon emissions, they agreed to focus on information exchange and training high quality human resources while forging markets of high-efficiency equipment and technology.

The next event of this kind will be held in the Tomsk city, Russia next year.

The ANMC now groups 13 member cities, including Bangkok, New Delhi, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Metropolitan Manila, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Tomsk, Ulaanbaatar and Yangon.-VNA