Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu hosted a reception in Hanoi on December 16 for Yoneda Gen, Director-General of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during which he appreciated JICA’s role and practical contributions to Vietnam’s development over more than three decades.
Vu highlighted the agency’s support for the country’s major ODA projects such as Bai Chay Bridge, Nhat Tan Bridge, Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line No.1, and Cho Ray Hospital.
Sharing and agreeing with Yoneda’s views, the official called on the two sides to continue close coordination to advance cooperation projects in line with agreements reached by high-ranking leaders, ensuring timely ground-breaking and implementation as committed.
He also expressed his hope that JICA will continue to urge the Japanese Government to consider providing Vietnam with next-generation ODA loans to support the country’s key, large-scale projects.
For his part, Yoneda thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its active and effective collaboration in promoting the implementation of Japanese ODA-funed projects.
He reaffirmed that JICA attaches great importance to Vietnam – Japan relations, noting that Japanese businesses highly value Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements and are eager to expand investment and business operations in the country in the coming period.
Concuring with Vu’s remarks, he affirmed that JICA will continue its efforts to support Vietnam’s development and closely coordinate with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and relevant agencies to accelerate key ODA cooperation projects, including the Vietnam – Japan University project, the Cho Ray Hospital project, as well as those on climate change response and disaster-resilient rural development in northern mountainous provinces./.
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