Moscow and Hanoi sign a cooperation program for 2019–2021
Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin and Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung signed a program of cooperation between the two cities for 2019-2021. The meeting took place within the scope of a visit to Moscow by the government delegation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The document provides for the exchange of experience, knowledge and information across key social and economic spheres, including the development of public transport and road transport infrastructure (parking facilities, traffic management); maintenance and cleaning of urban areas; science and advanced technology (assistance in establishing direct cooperation between technology parks and research centers in Moscow and Hanoi); health care and social protection; environmental protection; safety of the city’s environmental support systems; development and support of entrepreneurship; implementation of public-private partnerships and investment projects.
The city administrations plan to support business entities of the two capitals in establishing mutually beneficial business contacts. In the field of education, the Government of Moscow and the People’s Committee of Hanoi will promote the expansion of direct partnerships between educational organizations and the implementation of teacher training programs.
Hanoi is planning to host Days of Moscow at the end of November – beginning of December 2019.
Cooperation between Moscow and Hanoi
The Memorandum of Friendship and Cooperation between the capitals of Russia and Vietnam, signed in 1997, is the foundation of cooperation between Moscow and Hanoi.
Last year, the trade turnover between Moscow organizations and their Vietnamese partners amounted to $2.96 billion. Vietnam ranks ninth in terms of mutual trade among Moscow’s foreign partners.
There are about 20 enterprises with Vietnamese capital registered in Moscow. As of October 1, 2018, the volume of Vietnamese investments in the capital’s economy amounted to $527 million.
The largest implemented investment project is the cultural and business center “Hanoi-Moscow” (Yaroslavskoe shosse 146). The complex was built in 2010–2014. The area of 132,100 square meters houses a shopping center, offices, and a hotel with apartments.
According to the Border Service of the FSB of Russia, in 2018 the flow of tourists from Vietnam increased by 13% compared with 2017, totaling to 74,300 people.