HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội is willing to co-operate with Asia Foundation to promote urban agricultural production, said Chairman of Hà Nội Nguyễn Đức Chung at his meeting with Asia Foundation’s Country Representative in Việt Nam Michael DiGregorio.

Speaking at the meeting in the capital city on Thursday, Chung said he appreciated the operational efficiency of the Asia Foundation’s projects in Hà Nội. He said its urban agricultural development projects had contributed to improving people’s living standards.

Chung emphasised the importance of the group’s projects and the need for them to be expanded.

“We are willing to receive investors in the fields of production and social security,” Chung said.

He said the capital city was always looking for new expertise and advanced technologies that would aid its efforts to develop into a smart city and improve the lives of residents.

“In the past three years, Hà Nội has made progress in food safety, clean vegetable growing and husbandry, helping to meet the consumption demand of local residents,” Chung said. “We are boosting tree planting programmes to minimise air pollution.”

“The city has also been installing air and water pollution monitoring stations, applying advanced waste treatment technologies,” he added.

Michael DiGregorio introduced his foundation’s strengths and interest in financial support for low-income earners, air quality assessment, urban agricultural development and supplying clean vegetables.

The US-based Asia Foundation is a non-profit international development organisation committed to improving lives across Asia. It has operated in Việt Nam for 20 years and has carried out 23 programmes in various fields. — VNS