Ha Noi, Lichtenberg strengthen partnership for greener, more livable cities
VGP - Ha Noi and Berlin’s Lichtenberg District are deepening cooperation in green transport, digital governance and cultural heritage, marking 10 years of friendship and 50 years of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Germany.
Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen emphasized that the capital values support and experience-sharing from international partners, particularly German localities like Lichtenberg, through practical cooperation programs.
At a meeting with Lichtenberg Mayor Martin Schaefer on October 22, Nguyen noted that cooperation between Ha Noi and the Berlin district has produced positive outcomes, building on the strong partnership between Viet Nam and Germany as well as their capitals, Ha Noi and Berlin.
Since July 1, Ha Noi has implemented a two-tier local government model. Under this change, the former Hoan Kiem District—Lichtenberg's partner since 2015—has been reorganized into Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam wards.
Hoan Kiem Ward will continue to serve as the focal point for exchanges with Lichtenberg, while Ha Noi seeks to expand collaboration to include Cua Nam Ward, Nguyen said.
He expressed hope that Ha Noi will receive further support from German partners to address pressing urban challenges such as river and lake pollution, the rising number of fossil-fuel vehicles and inadequate infrastructure to handle flooding during heavy rains.
According to Nguyen, Ha Noi aims to enhance urban management, improve living standards and public amenities, and preserve its traditional, cultured and civilized identity.
"We plan to establish low-emission zones, operate a fully electric bus system by 2030, and introduce policies to encourage residents to switch to electric vehicles," he said.
"Other priorities include expanding green spaces and improving wastewater treatment facilities—key goals for Ha Noi during the 2025–2030 period."
Urban transportation remains a major focus of Ha Noi's cooperation with international partners, particularly Germany and Lichtenberg, Nguyen added.
Mayor Schaefer, for his part, praised Viet Nam's and Ha Noi's socio-economic development and administrative reform achievements. He noted that Ha Noi and Berlin share common priorities, including environmental protection, transportation and housing.
"Berlin is also undergoing administrative restructuring to better define the roles and responsibilities of the capital and its 12 districts," he said.
During the visit, Mayor Schaefer met with representatives of Hoan Kiem Ward to discuss further cooperation in culture, heritage preservation, environmental improvement, education and tourism. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the 2022–2025 cooperation agreement.
Schaefer expressed hope that Ha Noi would continue to facilitate exchanges and partnerships to strengthen local-level cooperation between the two capitals. He expected this visit to lay a solid foundation for closer ties between Lichtenberg and the wards of Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam.
The visit by Mayor Martin Schaefer and the German delegation coincided with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Germany and the 10th anniversary of the friendship between Hoan Kiem and Lichtenberg.
Lichtenberg, one of Berlin's largest districts, is home to Germany's biggest Vietnamese community. The partnership between Lichtenberg and the former Hoan Kiem District was established in 2015, focusing on investment and trade promotion, vocational training, environmental protection, transport infrastructure, healthcare, tourism and entrepreneurship. The two sides renewed their cooperation for the 2022–2026 period in December 2022.
Following recent administrative restructuring, Ha Noi now comprises 126 wards and communes, spanning more than 3,400 square kilometers and housing around 10 million people. The city's GRDP is projected to grow by 8.5 percent in 2025, with an average annual growth target of 11 percent for 2026–2030./.
