The Japanese government has pledged to grant a non-refundable aid package worth 83,000 USD to help the mountainous northern province of Ha Giang upgrade its rural roads.

An agreement underscoring the pledge was signed in Ha Noi on August 4 by representatives from the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and Ha Giang authorities.

The sum will be used to upgrade roads at the Du Gia border commune in Yen Minh district, which have been seriously damaged due to the flooding in 2004 and are in danger of causing landslides, putting lives at risk and blocking the transportation of goods.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Japanese ambassador to Vietnam Mitsuo Sakaba expressed his hope that the funding will contribute to bringing considerable improvement to communal traffic and that the project will provide impetus to boosting friendship and understanding between Vietnam and Japan./.