Vietnamese, French localities to boost health, education cooperation

Participants at the 10th conference on cooperation between localities of Vietnam and France (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho (VNA) - Health cooperation will be promoted by 40 Vietnamese and French provinces and cities in 2016-2020, participants said at a seminar within the framework of the 10th conference on cooperation between the two countries’ localities in southern Can Tho city on September 14.

The thematic seminar on education and health care was hosted by the cities of Hanoi and Toulouse.

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang is seeking France’s assistance for the improvement of Tien Giang General Hospital, which was built in 1923, to increase the scale to 1,000 beds, at an estimated cost of 2,300 billion VND (103.5 million USD).

Earlier, France has provided 19.5 million EUR in ODA loans for the construction of Can Tho General Hospital, which was put into operation since January this year, and is still cooperating in supplying medical equipment and services.

Deputy Mayor of Toulouse, Jean Claude Dardelet said France and Vietnam will create more overseas study programmes at postgraduate level for Vietnamese health officials and students with French scholarship funds.

Rennes city will also help Hanoi train 40 officials specialised in administration, finance, environment, construction and agriculture management each year.

Vietnamese delegates suggested French counterparts enhance support in teaching the French language in Vietnam’s health and education sectors.

The French delegates affirmed that French programmes in dual language-teaching will be promoted in some high schools, including Chu Van An, Amsterdam, Nguyen Hue and some universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

A French learning centre will also be established in Can Tho, according to Can Tho Department of Education and Training.-VNA