Japan will help the coastal central city improve its deep sea ports, drainage and water supply systems, as well as boost exports of Da Nang and the central region of Vietnam , Hideo Suzuki, Minister-Counsellor of the Japanese embassy in Vietnam said during a visit to the city on June 8.

He said the location of Da Nang in the central region of Vietnam and at the end of the East-West Economic Corridor – linking Myanmar , Thailand , Laos and Vietnam gives it an important role in boosting the economy in the central region.

Chairman of Da Nang City People's Committee Van Huu Chien said the city hopes Japan will launch direct flights from Japan to Da Nang in the future as well as improve the city's ports.

As scheduled, groups of Japanese investors will come to study the feasibility of sewage treatment and water supply projects next year.

The chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam , Tsuno Motonori said JICA would have more discussions on improving the city's Tien Sa port's second phase of Lien Chieu port in coming years.

"Japanese investors will finish their feasibility studies on drainage and water supply systems for the city in the middle of next year. JICA will consider enlarging the project of the Tien Sa port soon," Tsuno said.

"JICA also helps Da Nang in cooperation with Yokohama city in building Da Nang as a green city in the future," he added.

Da Nang has two big ports including Tien Sa and Lien Chieu.

However, Tien Sa port only allows access of 30,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) ships, while 50,000 DWT container ships can dock at Lien Chieu.

The city currently has 54 investment projects from Japan worth 252 million USD – the fourth biggest investment of the city's total foreign investment capital of 3.45 billion USD.-VNA