When talking to the Lao Dong (Labour)newspaper on July 28, Ambassador Sakaba said that the projects – theLach Huyen deepwater port in the northern city of Hai Phong and CaiMep-Thi Vai deepwater port in the southern coastal province of BaRia-Vung Tau, are expected to be completed by 2015.
Regarding Japan’s participation at the ASEAN Economics MinistersMeeting scheduled for next month in the central coastal city of Da Nang,the Japanese diplomat said that his country’s Minister of Economy,Trade and Industry Masayuki Naoshima will attend the event to promotethe implementation of the free trade agreement with the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and economic cooperation between Japanand the Mekong region.
The minister will also discuss cooperative ties with Vietnam on climate change, added Sakaba.
Concerning Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, Sakaba said that Japan will strive to keep ODA to Vietnam at itscurrent level but will increase the amount if Vietnam putsforward projects that are feasible.
Vietnamremains one of the countries to receive the highest amount of ODA fromJapan , both in loans and non-refundable aid, said the diplomat.
On July 27 and 28, the Japanese embassy signed a non-refundable aidcontract worth 285,000 USD to build two primary schools in the northernprovince of Ninh Binh and one primary school in the northern mountainousprovince of Bac Giang, he added./.