Hue City in central Vietnam and Japan's Shizuoka City have inked an agreement to officially establish a "Friendship City" relationship.
Under the signed agreement, the two cities agreed to inherit and further develop the friendly and cooperative relationship that has been maintained since 2005. Both sides aim to enhance mutual understanding and promote win-win cooperation in accordance with their respective national laws and international treaties.
Hue and Shizuoka will encourage information exchange, cultural interaction, and cooperation in sectors including culture, tourism, human resource development, economy, and the environment, while respecting the unique characteristics of each locality.
Establishing this formal friendship city status not only solidifies a foundation of exchange spanning more than two decades but also opens a new channel for Hue to access Japanese businesses, advanced technology, and development expertise. Specifically, cooperation in investment, tourism, human resources, and green technology is expected to become a core focus, deepening the bilateral relationship and driving Hue’s transition toward green and sustainable development.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on September 4, Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee Le Tri Thanh stated that in its new development phase as a centrally-governed city, Hue is accelerating international integration and green economic growth based on the preservation and promotion of its heritage and cultural values.
Guided by this orientation, Hue seeks to elevate its partnership with Shizuoka—a city with significant strengths in eco-tourism, green technology, logistics, and the port economy. These areas are seen as having substantial room for expanded cooperation in the coming years.
Hue's leadership proposed that both sides strengthen destination promotion and bilateral tourism stimulus, while also considering the participation of Shizuoka’s art troupes in the Hue Festival 2027. Regarding human resource development, the two cities will promote student and intern exchanges, as well as cooperation in training and labor dispatch, thereby expanding education and employment opportunities for the local workforce.
Notably, in the economic sector, Hue requested that Shizuoka introduce Japanese enterprises to survey and explore investment and business opportunities in Hue, while fostering stronger connections between businesses from both sides.
During the meeting, Mayor of Shizuoka Takashi Nanba said that his city aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is currently promoting the application of renewable energy. Mayor Nanba expressed his desire for both sides to continue sharing knowledge and experience to tackle climate change challenges. He also voiced his support for Hue’s proposal to cooperate in the field of medical tourism.
Google translate