(VOV) - Leaders of 13 Asian cities are gathering in Hanoi to discuss urban planning and energy policies in the region. In his opening speech on Monday, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai expressed hope through the two panel discussions, the 21 members of the Asian Network of Major Cities in the 21^st Century (ANMC 21) will work out solutions to planning and management issues in urban areas. He said Asian cities need to find a common ground on the effective use of energy sources to address climate change which is impacting sustainable development of all nations.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai opens the meeting. Photo: VNA

On Monday delegates made a fact-finding tour of the Hanoi Old Quarter and other major architectural projects, as well as Savico Megamall to evaluate the city’s urban planning and energy conservation policies.

Hanoi has carried out a number of ANMC 21 projects on developing small- and medium-sized passenger planes, crisis management in Asia, and measures to cope with communicable diseases in Asia.

The annual plenary meeting takes place in one of the ANMC 21’s cities on a rotary basis. Hanoi joined this organisation in 2001 and this is the second time it has hosted such a meeting.