Ha Noi, Moscow sign new cooperation pact to deepen multifaceted city ties

The MoU, inked on December 1, outlines plans to bolster exchanges in tourism through joint promotion initiatives, market surveys and improved service infrastructure. In the cultural sphere, the two cities will share expertise in heritage preservation, co-organize exhibitions and seminars, and maintain regular cultural exchange programs.

Sports cooperation will also be strengthened, with plans to co-host international competitions and expand athlete exchange activities.

Environmental collaboration is another key pillar of the agreement, focusing on pollution control, ecosystem restoration and climate resilience. Both sides also committed to enhancing cooperation in urban planning, construction, redevelopment and the development of transport and landscape infrastructure.

In investment and trade, the two capitals pledged to facilitate business access to each other's markets, share policy information and support joint economic projects.

Healthcare and social welfare cooperation will include joint research, training and the development of digital medical applications. Education remains a priority, with commitments to expand student and teacher exchanges, strengthen professional collaboration and continue the teaching of Russian in Ha Noi and Vietnamese in Moscow.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen emphasized the importance of the new cooperation document. He said Ha Noi values the longstanding goodwill that the Russian Federation has extended to Vietnam, and stressed the need for both capitals to work closely to address challenges in urban development while advancing cooperation in Ha Noi's priority sectors.

"The agreement will create new momentum, enabling both cities to better harness their cooperation potential in urban development, environment, healthcare, technology and education," Quyen noted, adding that Ha Noi will swiftly develop action plans to implement its commitments.

Sergey Cheremin, Minister of the Moscow Government, highlighted Moscow's major ongoing programmes in heritage preservation and public transport development. He also noted the city's increased use of artificial intelligence in urban management and the expansion of its social welfare services. Cheremin affirmed Moscow's readiness to share experience and work with Ha Noi to make the partnership more substantive and effective.

Ties between Ha Noi and Moscow stretch back to the late 1990s. Their partnership has been institutionalized through a series of documents, including the 1998 Agreement on Expanding Friendship and Cooperation, the 2001 Memorandum on Developing Friendly Relations and the 2004–2005 Cooperation Program signed in 2003. Additional agreements concluded in 2008, 2013, 2018 and 2019 have further consolidated long-term collaboration.

Cultural exchanges have been especially notable, with events such as "Moscow Days in Ha Noi," Russian cultural exhibitions, arts performances at the Lenin Statue and the unveiling of the Pushkin Statue at Hoa Binh Park leaving strong impressions on the public.

In the field of trade and investment, Ha Noi has attracted US$167.5 million in Russian foreign direct investment between 1986 and 2025. From January to October 2025 alone, the city received more than $14 million in new Russian investment across manufacturing, accommodation, food services, wholesale and construction. During the same period, Ha Noi exported goods worth $183.9 million to Russia and imported $586.9 million.

Upcoming projects such as the Ha Noi Cultural and Trade Center in Moscow and the planned "Moscow House in Ha Noi" underscore the depth of bilateral cooperation and reflect both capitals' growing role as gateways for their respective business communities./.