The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) and the Tokyo Metro Co. Ltd. from Japan inked a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the management and construction of the capital’s railway system on February 18.

For the past year, the Japan International Cooperation Agency has implemented a technical assistance project to enhance Hanoi ’s capacity in urban railway management, operation and maintenance.

Tokyo Metro President Yoshimitsu Oku said more experience and training are required to ensure the safe and stable operation of the urban railway system.

He expressed his hope that the Japanese side will tighten technical collaboration and conduct further personnel and information exchanges with the MRB.

At the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Van Khoi said both sides also need to expand their cooperation content in terms of management, operation and maintenance, which are pivotal to urban railway system development.

Hanoi plans to build eight urban railway lines. Five are under construction or in the research phase.

The first line is expected to become operational by the end of 2015.-VNA