The meeting, which focuses on promoting alliances for sustainable development, is a good chance for both countries and their localities in particular, to strengthen their cultural and economic cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Home Affairs, Tran Van Tuan, appreciated the cooperation between the two countries and their localities. He hopes there will be more cooperative projects signed and implemented by the two countries after the meeting.

French Ambassador to Vietnam, Jean Francois Girault, expressed his delight at the development of the relations in various fields like culture, education, healthcare service, and public administration. He said that in Asia, Vietnam receives the largest amount of French investment funds.

The Vietnam-France cooperative relationship was built long ago. It has been nurtured with regular visits by both countries’ state leaders and an agreement on strategic cooperation for the 2006-2010 period.

Two-way trade turnover saw a seven percent increase compared to 2008 and France’s FDI in Vietnam reaches US$2.4 billion in 2010.

The decentralised cooperation between civil organisations and localities is now considered an important factor in the development of the bilateral relationship and mutual trust. The cooperation was started by the establishment of relationship between Hanoi and Ile de France region 30 years ago and has been expanded with the participation of 19 provinces and cities in France and 24 in Vietnam.

Under the cooperation agreement, 60 projects have been carried out, contributing to the development of economics, infrastructure, education and training, scientific research, and many other fields.