Vietnam-France forum on smart, sustainable urban areas
Business France and the French Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City organised the Vietnam-France forum on smart and sustainable urban areas on July 4.
The HCM City People’s Committee and the French General Consulate in the city sign an MoU on cooperation in air quality control on July 4 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Business France and the FrenchConsulate General in Ho Chi Minh City organised the Vietnam-France forum onsmart and sustainable urban areas on July 4.
Representatives from the municipal People’s Committeeand French General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) on cooperation in air quality control to cope with the environmentalchallenges of sustainable development in the city.
Accordingly, both sides will share their knowledge andtechnical expertise to launch an air quality control programme in the city,establish an air quality monitor system, and devise measures to prevent andmitigate air pollution – altogether contributing to environmental protectionand climate change response.
The city and the French Consulate General willcooperate in workforce training for air quality management, as well as launchingspecific projects within the MoU framework, including mobilising and allocatingFrance’s financial aid to promote progress in environmental protection and climatechange response.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee TranVinh Tuyen said the forum affords domestic and foreign firms a chance to seek partners,expand markets, and attract investment, adding that the MoU will help the citycontrol and mitigate air pollution, contributing to building Ho Chi Minh Cityinto a green, modern, and sustainable urban area.
French Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City VincentFloreani said French companies with successful projects are ready to partnerwith the city in this field.
The event attracted experts, senior executives, andleading firms in architecture, urban transportation, energy, waste management,and water treatment.
Participants discussed air quality management, greenprojects, and smart construction technology.
Several French firms met bilaterally with VietnameseState agencies and private partners to seek opportunities in promising fields. -VNA
Vietnam and France signed many cooperation agreements in health during a working visit to France by Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien from June 13-17 at the invitation of French Minister of Solidarities and Health Agnès Buzyn.
Vietnam and France have agreed to further expand cultural cooperation in all aspects, including new forms, to encourage more and more Vietnamese youths to study French culture and language.
France is exchanging professional knowledge and experience in military engineering with Vietnam in the United Nations peacekeeping operations during a two-week programme, which commenced in Hanoi on June 25.
Cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities is one of the pillars to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, heard a seminar in Paris on June25.
The Vietnam Provincial Roadshow in France took place in Paris from June 25-27, as part of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and five years of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Founded in 1842, the Vienna Philharmonic is regarded as a cultural ambassador of Austria, with prestigious conductors like Mahler and Karajan who shape its legacy. Its New Year’s Concert, broadcast to over 90 countries annually, stands as a global symbol of classical music excellence.
PM Chinh lauded the press’s historic role in the nation’s fight for independence and its ongoing process of national development, affirming that the Government always highly appreciates the close partnership and steadfast support of press agencies and journalists nationwide.
In recent decades, Vietnam’s mainstream media has become a reliable and persuasive channel for showcasing the nation’s development policies and achievements, especially in economic matters, according to a senior assistant editor at the Times of India.
A hub for sharing best practices, the event aims to forge solutions for financial sustainability, public media contracts, audience engagement, content innovation, and newsroom restructuring. It is also a moment for Vietnam’s media to accelerate its progress and figure out what the “revolutionary press” means in a new era.
From “Thanh nien”, Vietnam’s first revolutionary newspaper founded by Nguyen Ai Quoc (later President Ho Chi Minh) on June 21, 1925, the revolutionary press has remained devoted to its sacred missions -accompanying the nation, serving the Fatherland, and working for the people.
The official launch of Emirates’ Dubai–Da Nang route on June 2 has sparked a “tourism revolution” for Vietnam’s central coastal city. Da Nang is emerging as a top destination for high-end travelers, particularly from the lucrative Middle Eastern market.
Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin said VNA has been a consistent and reliable partner in OANA, contributing actively to the regional media landscape through content sharing, coordination, and policy discussions. Their coverage of ASEAN and Indochina issues adds valuable perspectives. Bernama appreciates the collaboration with VNA.
In this era of global integration and digitalisation, the press must adopt modern multimedia models to not only meet increasing information and communication demands but also align with the broader socio-economic development of the country.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
The HCM City People’s Committee and the French General Consulate in the city sign an MoU on cooperation in air quality control on July 4 (Photo: VNA) 
