Can Tho bridge, a symbol of Vietnam-Japan friendship (Photo: baodautu.vn) Speakingat the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Tan Hiensaid Can Tho now records six foreign-invested projects from Japan worth around1.35 billion USD, making Japan the biggest out of 22 countries and territories investingin the locality. The city hasalso received tens of millions of USD in official development assistance (ODA)from the Japanese Government for large-scale projects such as Can Tho bridgeand O Mon thermal power plant.
According to him, Japan hasprovided significant humanitarian and community development assistance throughinstitutions like the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and theJapan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with projects on building capacity,supporting vulnerable groups and language training centres, and improvingeducational infrastructure which have contributed to socio-economic developmentin the Mekong Delta and Can Tho in particular.
Japanese Consul General inHo Chi Minh City OnoMasuo said this year marks the 50th anniversary of bilateraldiplomatic ties. He wished to continue active cooperation with key units in Can Tho, such as Can Tho Universityand the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Can Tho city to foster even betterconnections between the two countries’ young generations.
Chairwoman of the Can ThoUnion of Friendship Organisations Le Thi Thanh Giang said together with theVietnam-Japan Friendship Association, the union has offered all possiblesupport to Japanese firms to do business in the city.
In June, the union incoordination with the Consulate General of Japan and the Can Tho College ofCulture and Arts, held a ceremony to receive music equipment funded by theJapanese Government. The event was part of the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects with a total budget of 75,716 USD, she added.
At present, Japan is the biggest ODA supplier, the second largest investor, thethird largest urban partner, and the fourth biggest bilateral trade partner ofVietnam./.
VNA
