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| Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee presents a gift to Mr. Herve Conan, Director of AFD Vietnam |
During the meeting, Mr. Herve Conan introduced AFD's core areas of expertise and its ongoing activities in Vietnam. AFD has funded numerous projects across the country in sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, energy, and agriculture.
Through this working session, AFD expressed a desire to collaborate with Hue in its key areas of strength, including programs focused on climate change adaptation, green growth, and climate resilience. AFD hopes to organize seminars and workshops in Hue, and work closely with the city to identify areas that could benefit from ODA funding through AFD.
Vice Chairman Hoang Hai Minh welcomed Mr. Herve Conan's visit and emphasized that AFD’s strengths align well with Hue’s development vision of becoming a green city, a tourist city. While the city has suffered significant damage from climate change and natural disasters, Hue continues to focus on recovery and improving the quality of life for its residents, moving toward a model of a clean, green, and smart city with green transportation, green agriculture, and clean energy.
Based on AFD’s proposals, Vice Chairman Minh recommended both sides develop long-term, sustainable cooperation strategies, with a view to incorporating joint projects into future public investment plans. Priority should be given to initiatives aligned with the development goals and strengths of both parties.
Earlier that same day, Mr. Vo Le Nhat, Secretary of Phu Xuan District Party Committee and Acting Chairman of Phu Xuan District People’s Council, also met with Mr. Herve Conan. The meeting opened new prospects for long-term collaboration in areas such as urban development, environmental protection, and cultural heritage. The event was attended by Phu Xuan District leaders, the Director of the French Institute in Hue, and representatives from relevant departments.
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| Mr. Herve Conan posing for a commemorative photo with leaders of Phu Xuan District and the French Institute in Hue |
Both sides reviewed the effective cooperation between AFD and Hue (now divided into the districts of Phu Xuân and Thuan Hoa), particularly in sustainable urban infrastructure development, heritage conservation, and climate adaptation.
Since 2011, AFD has partnered with Interdepartmental Syndicate for the Sanitation of Greater Paris (SIAAP) to implement the “Improving the drainage system of Hue Citadel and reducing sedimentation in Ngu Ha River” project.
This was one of the earliest projects to clearly demonstrate AFD’s commitment to helping Hue become a green, clean city resilient to environmental challenges.
At the meeting, Mr. Vo Le Nhat hoped AFD would continue supporting Phu Xuan District in areas such as environmental sanitation, waste management, transportation infrastructure upgrades, and clean water supply. He also highlighted the district’s hopes for human resource training programs, renewable energy development, and cultural heritage conservation integrated with sustainable tourism.
Mr. Vo Le Nhat further proposed that AFD serve as a “bridge” to connect Phu Xuan with French localities, thereby expanding cultural and educational cooperation programs and boosting cultural exchange projects, helping Hue in general, and Phu Xuan district in particular, become a model of a climate-adaptive heritage city.
In response, Mr. Herve Conan praised Phu Xuan’s potential and emphasized that Hue remains a priority area for AFD investment and support in sustainable development. He stated that he would conduct more in-depth site visits and return to Hue soon to launch specific collaborative projects.
The French Development Agency (AFD) has been active in Vietnam since 1994, with a focus on sustainable development, climate change mitigation, and social equity. Within this strategic framework, Hue has consistently been a priority for AFD, particularly in programs related to infrastructure, environment, and cultural heritage preservation.