The delegation of Hue City, led by Mr. Phan Thien Dinh, standing member of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of Hue City Party Committee, Chairman of Hue City People's Council, was on working visit to Cergy City from February 28 to March 4, 2024 at the invitation of Mayor of Cergy City (French Republic). The delegation also included Mr. Phan Le Chung, Secretary of Party Committee, Chairman of the Council of the University of Arts and certain lecturers.
During the visit, the delegation worked with Mr. Jean-Paul Jeandon, the Mayor of Cergy, and a number of agencies under Cergy City Hall, the Faculty of Arts - Cergy University, and Cergy University of Arts, Cergy Dance Training Center, Youth Council of Cergy, etc. Through the introduction of Mr. Jean-Paul Jeandon as president of the agglomeration community of Cergy-Pontoise, the delegation paid a visit and worked with the Smart Urban Lighting Center of the Cergy-Pontoise agglomeration community, Tourist Office of Cergy-Pontoise and Les Ateliers - International Urban Planning Workshops of Cergy-Pontoise, etc.
At the working sessions, the representative leaders of the two cities evaluated the results of cooperation over the past time and proposed orientations for ties in the future. Both sides affirmed that, although two cities have just signed a cooperation agreement for a short time (since 2018), the cooperation has progressed quickly and effectively with similarities in culture, development orientation, and the support of the government and citizens as well as the activeness and responsibility of the staff of specialized departments; despite COVID-19 impact, both sides organized a wealth of exchange activities, learning experiences, cultural, traditional crafts and trade exchange programs, bringing about practical values. Promoting the achieved results, the two sides discussed and agreed on policies to implement a number of new activities in 2024, including organizing the International Urban Planning Workshop in Hue City; cooperating in promoting tourism investment and development associated with cultural exchanges between the two localities, etc.
One of the important activities of the delegation during this trip to Cergy City was to attend the Vietnamese Tet event "Passport to Asia" co-organized by Cergy City and Party Pris Association. Through the exchanging activities, and activities of introducing the ao dai fashion, calligraphy writing, lacquer painting, etc., artists from Hue introduced to the people of Cergy City and the neighboring cities the rich and diverse features, rich in identity, combining traditional and modern elements of Hue culture in particular and Vietnamese cultural traditions in general. Despite the bad weather, many people were still excited to attend the festival. The mayor of Cergy City highly appreciated the active participation of the Hue delegation in organizing many activities, affirming that cultural cooperation is one of the pillars of the relationship between the two cities, as a basis for relationship development and expansion such as tourism promotion and call for investment in economic development between the two cities.
Working with Cergy-Pontoise University of Arts and Cergy School of Design, two sides discussed and realized the necessity and potential in the cooperative relations between the universities in the two cities; on that basis, Hue University of Arts will work with universities and stakeholders to develop specific plans to organize exchange and cooperation activities, with the support and coordination of the two localities as well as related agencies. A great deal of possibilities for cooperation between the two training institutions in the coming time has also been raised, in which student and faculty-staff exchange programs, short-term lectureships of guest lecturers could completely be conducted in the near future. Attending the meeting, there was Professor Luciana Radut-Gaghi, Vice-President of International Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Cergy Paris University, is total favour of cooperative initiatives, including post-graduate training programs. She also informed the signing of the cooperation agreement between Hue Tourism College and a tourism training school of the network is currently being supported based on the dynamic and effective cooperation between Hue and Cergy. According to her, the cooperation between departments, units and training institutions of the two cities has been regarded as a strategy for the coming time based on practical, efficient and active cooperation and exchanges between Hue and Cergy in recent times.
Cergy City is a young, creative, satellite urban of the French capital region. The strengthening of relations between the two cities has been creating more opportunities for Hue City to promote its image, build cooperative connections, as well as cultural, educational, and economic exchanges with the people of France and European countries.