Isfahan’s Mayor, Ali Ghasemzadeh, has announced the city’s readiness to engage in mutual exchange of urban management experiences with Vietnam, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties in various fields of municipal governance.
Iran (IMNA) - Speaking on Sunday, October 19, during a meeting with Vietnam’s Ambassador to Iran, Ghasemzadeh highlighted Isfahan’s deep-rooted historical and cultural legacy. “Isfahan is among Iran’s most prominent cities, with a rich civilizational background. It is a city distinguished by its history, culture, art, science, and industry—each of which can serve as a foundation for fostering reciprocal relations with Vietnam,” he stated.
The mayor underscored Isfahan’s particular interest in sharing expertise within the framework of urban management. “Urban management encompasses a wide spectrum of responsibilities—from city maintenance, sanitation, and waste management to energy resource administration and cultural and artistic affairs. These are all areas where our cities can engage in constructive collaboration,” he explained.
Ghasemzadeh also noted that such cooperation could be advanced through channels of public diplomacy. “In this context, we proposed a sister-city relationship with Ho Chi Minh City. The similarities between our two cities create a natural basis for mutual engagement. However, despite more than two years since our proposal, we have yet to receive any formal response from Ho Chi Minh City,” he remarked.
He further clarified that even in the absence of a positive reply, Isfahan remains committed to pursuing bilateral relations through official diplomatic mechanisms. “The advantage of public diplomacy lies in its flexibility, as it is not constrained by the formalities of state diplomacy. It is worth recalling that even before the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between Iran and Vietnam in 1970, merchants from both nations maintained active exchanges,” Ghasemzadeh noted.
Concluding his remarks, the mayor reaffirmed Isfahan’s enthusiasm for deepening cooperation, particularly in the realm of urban governance. “We continue to await Ho Chi Minh City’s response to our proposal. The initial invitation originated from their side, to which we promptly replied. Whether affirmative or negative, a response would be appreciated, as the concept of sisterhood between cities transcends considerations such as size or population,” he emphasized.
Vietnamese Ambassador: Isfahan’s Heritage and Proximity to the Capital Make It a Natural International Hub
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Iran highlighted Isfahan’s exceptional historical and cultural stature, describing it as the heart of Iran’s handicraft industry and a city whose legacy extends back more than two millennia. He noted that Isfahan’s geographical proximity to the Iranian capital enhances its potential to emerge not only as a leading modern city but also as a prominent international hub for tourism, global events, and scientific conferences.
Speaking at a meeting with Isfahan’s mayor, the ambassador emphasized Vietnam’s interest in developing joint initiatives. “Vietnam regularly hosts international events and exhibitions, and there are ample opportunities for collaboration with the city of Isfahan in these areas,” he said. Referring to a meeting held the previous day with Isfahani business representatives, he added, “We observed a remarkable level of trade exchange between Isfahani merchants and Vietnam, which demonstrates the strong commercial foundation upon which broader cooperation can be built.”
Ambassador Luong Ngoc further noted that Ho Chi Minh City, given its economic and infrastructural profile, could be an appropriate sister city for Isfahan. “Our current information about Isfahan remains limited,” he admitted. “Meanwhile, municipal authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are carefully reviewing information about more than one hundred potential sister cities, each with distinct advantages. We must proceed step by step—the first phase should involve mutual exchanges of tourists and business delegations to deepen mutual understanding.”
The ambassador underscored that Ho Chi Minh City and Isfahan could cooperate across a range of fields, including smart city development, solar energy, finance, and economic innovation. “Many Vietnamese cities are making significant advances in artificial intelligence,” he noted. “We now operate intelligent surveillance systems capable of identifying over 200,000 faces, alongside smart traffic cameras that automatically extract vehicle and motorcycle license plate data.”
Praising Isfahan’s broad capacities, the ambassador asserted that the city could play a constructive role in heritage preservation, scientific collaboration, and technological development in Vietnam. “I will make every effort to encourage high-ranking Vietnamese delegations visiting Iran to include Isfahan in their itineraries,” he pledged. “We will also invite Vietnamese tourists and journalists to experience firsthand the immense cultural and technological potential of this magnificent city.”
Concluding his remarks, Luong Ngoc pointed out that Ho Chi Minh City, with a population of approximately 15 million—roughly equivalent to the entire population of Isfahan Province— naturally faces a distinct set of urban challenges. “This scale brings its own considerations,” he said, “but it also provides valuable opportunities for sharing experiences in metropolitan governance.”
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