Hanoi, Tehran push for comprehensive cooperation

Hanoi and Tehran have pledged cooperation in a number of areas, including culture, trade, investment and urban development.

Overview of the meeting. Photos: The Hanoi Times

This sentiment was shared in the meeting between Chairman of Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan and Chairman of Tehran Council Mehdi Chamran Save'ei on August 11, during the visit of Vietnam's high-ranking delegation to the Iranian capital.

At the meeting, Tuan expressed his gratitude for the warm and respectful reception accorded to the delegation by the Tehran Council. He stressed that the Hanoi delegation's visit to Tehran has special significance as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Iran diplomatic relations.

The visit marks an important milestone as it is the first time that leaders of the Hanoi People's Council have visited Tehran in nearly 11 years since the signing of a memorandum of friendship and cooperation between the two cities.

Tuan expected that the visit would strengthen friendly ties and facilitate cooperation between Hanoi and Tehran, and open up new avenues for collaboration in the times ahead.

Tuan underlined the rich historical heritage of the city, which boasts thousands of years of civilization. He highlighted the convergence of Vietnam's most ancient and profound cultural values in one place, Hanoi, as evidenced by 5,922 historical and cultural landmarks and 1,350 traditional handicraft villages.

Hanoi has been awarded the title of "City of Peace" by UNESCO and is an active member of the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities.

The city draws tourists with its unique attractions, landscapes, historical treasures and cultural distinctiveness. Hanoi also boasts a well-developed and integrated infrastructure, creating a safe investment environment within a stable political climate.

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan and his counterpart from Tehran Mehdi Chamran Save’ei.

At present, Hanoi has friendly relations and cooperation with more than 100 cities and capitals worldwide and is a member of many prestigious international organizations, Tuan said.

During the talks, the leaders of Hanoi and Tehran acknowledged the untapped potentials and opportunities for growth between the two capitals.

Building on the foundations of successful cooperation in various fields such as politics, diplomacy, culture and people-to-people exchanges, both sides expressed their willingness to enhance cooperation. Their common goal is to deepen cooperation at the grassroots level and foster stronger ties between Vietnam and Iran.

The two municipal leaders reached a consensus on several important directions of cooperation. These include the effective implementation of the previously signed Memorandum of Understanding, the promotion of mutual visits and delegations between Hanoi and Tehran.

Both sides aimed to stimulate people-to-people contacts and increase cultural, artistic and sports exchanges to enhance mutual understanding. Joint efforts will be made to promote investment, trade and tourism.

The leaders intended to share experience among specialized agencies, covering aspects such as urban planning, transportation, environmental protection, sustainable development, and the preservation and promotion of heritage values.

In addition, they wanted to create favorable conditions for businesses from both cities to explore and expand markets.

The establishment of an information channel was considered essential for the optimal functioning of the two city councils. This would facilitate the exchange and dissemination of knowledge on the formulation of mechanisms and policies for capital development, among other assigned tasks, in accordance with legal requirements.

Mehdi Chamran Save'ei, Chairman of the Tehran Council, expressed his satisfaction in welcoming the Hanoi delegation. He stressed the importance of this visit in terms of strengthening and expanding the bonds of friendship and interaction.

Mehdi hailed the occasion as a platform to explore new avenues of cooperation, building on the foundation of the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding on Friendship and Cooperation between the two cities.

In line with the cooperative agenda, the Chairman of the Tehran City Council pledged to further advance the robust camaraderie and cooperation between the two capitals, aiming for a deeper, more effective and pragmatic relationship between Tehran and Hanoi.

Tuan extended an invitation to the Chairman of the Tehran Council and the Tehran government to visit Hanoi in the near future, expecting that the cooperation between Hanoi and Tehran will make further progress and achievements in the times ahead.