HANOI FOREIGN RELATION ACTIVITIES
Asahikawa looks forward to enhancing cooperation with Hanoi, a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the design field.
Hanoi has been cooperating with Japanese localities in various fields, including economy, culture, and education.
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen (r) and Mayor of Asahikawa City Imaru Hirosuke (l).
Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen shared the view during a meeting with the Mayor of Asahikawa City (Hokkaido Prefecture) Imaru Hirosuke on November 8.
During the meeting, Mayor of Asahikawa City Imaru Hirosuke expressed his pleasure in leading the delegation to visit and work in Hanoi. Hirosuke shared that Asahikawa City is a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network and will host the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Conference in the field of design in October 2024.
Asahikawa City, representing Hokkaido Prefecture, is known for its strength in the development of arts and crafts, he noted, adding the city currently has a design introduction center with a network of 40 businesses in the industry, showcasing and developing innovative ideas.
The center aims to produce artistic, creative, and highly applicable handicraft products while researching effective forest planting and exploitation policies, ensuring the sustainable development of crafts. This approach has improved the local residents' quality of life, revitalized industries, and promoted strong development. Asahikawa City looks forward to enhancing cooperation with Hanoi, a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the design field, to leverage the potential and strengths of both localities in the future, said Hirosuke.
Thanking Mayor Imaru Hirosuke for the insights, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hanoi Nguyen Manh Quyen stated that Hanoi values the promotion of friendly cooperation with Japanese localities to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.
For years, Japanese localities have been actively implementing diverse cooperation activities with Hanoi in economic, cultural, and educational fields, he noted.
Quyen mentioned that with its long cultural history, Hanoi currently has nearly 1,300 craft villages, accounting for 56% of the total number in the country. The preservation and development of traditional culture, particularly the development of handicraft industries, are among the city's top priorities.
Through the exchange with Mayor Imaru Hirosuke, Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Quyen appreciated the potential and opportunities for cooperation between Hanoi and Asahikawa City in elevating and developing the local handicraft industry.
Additionally, he suggested that Asahikawa closely collaborate with Hanoi within the framework of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network to share experiences in creative design, interactive technology, and innovation, promoting creativity in urban development, and establishing creative centers and spaces locally.
Both leaders agreed to continue promoting friendly cooperation between Hanoi and Asahikawa through increased high-level delegation exchanges and interactions between agencies, organizations, and businesses from both localities in the future.
Ngoc Mai