Moscow (VNA) - An inter-agency delegation led by Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Tran Duc Thang has held meetings with officials in Moscow and St. Petersburg to discuss railway and urban railway development and expand cooperation between Hanoi and Russian localities. Thang met with Russian State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Transport Dmitry Zverev and leaders of Russian Railways (RZD) in Moscow on August 13, affirming that Vietnam always values the support and valuable experience of Russian partners in national construction and development. He noted that Russia has advanced technologies and expertise in transport, while Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam's two special cities and economic locomotives - are prioritising the development of urban transport, urban railways and smart infrastructure, offering significant potential for expanded cooperation. Thang said that Hanoi has approved a 100-year master plan envisioning a smart city, underground space, and low- and high-altitude economy, while investing in urban railway lines and inter-regional transport links. Against this backdrop, Hanoi hopes that Russia's Ministry of Transport and partners will share experience in policymaking and technical standards for urban railways and underground infrastructure, and support design, technology integration, training and technology transfer. The city also invited Russian businesses to explore investment in metro projects under Hanoi's transport development plan to 2030, with a vision to 2050. Hanoi also proposed studying flexible investment models suited to local needs and conditions, while enhancing expert exchanges and sharing experience in metro construction, management and operation. The two sides were encouraged to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in traffic management and regulation to help ease congestion. Hanoi is also interested in designing underground structures and stations as architectural landmarks reflecting the city's cultural and historical identity, integrating technologies across metro lines, developing a