An ongoing workshop in Hanoi is offering a chance for engineers, experts and enterprises from Vietnam and Japan to share experience in underground structures, transportation and geotechnics.

The function, co-organised by the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Association (VFCEA) and the Japan Society for Civil Engineering (JSCE), is among numerous activities marking the 40 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Panels at the workshop will hear scientific reports and participate in round-table meetings as well as a series of sideline activities to seek cooperation in the 2014-2018 period.

Deputy Minister of Construction Cao Lai Quang said the ministry attaches special importance to cooperating with Japan in the field of infrastructure, construction and transport since it plays a key role in the industrialisation and modernisation of Vietnam.

Japan is now lending official development assistance (ODA) to a range of key infrastructure projects in Vietnam, including Terminal 2 of Noi Bai International Airport, Can Tho, Bai Chay and Nhat Tan bridges, as well as the East-West Highway.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction is also cooperating with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in several technical projects to improve the urban planning and management, and construction management in Vietnam.

Businesses from the two countries focus on technical services, materials and energy to boost trade and investment, and they are also committed to building green cities, smart villages, sustainable infrastructures and underground structures in the urban areas.

Centre for construction techniques cooperation between Vietnam and Japan was established on November 7 and will serve numerous partnership activities in the time ahead, especially when the two countries expand the scale of their work together in the field, said JSCE President Takehiko Ono.-VNA