The cooperation projects between Vietnam and Japan, implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in northwestern Dien Bien province, are running according to the committed schedule and resources.

Pham Duc Hien, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, made the statement at a meeting on September 9 to review three technical projects on rural development and sustainable forest management. This is also part of the activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations.

The total investment capital of the projects, started in 2010, is over 312 billion VND (14.6 million USD), with 95.7 percent of capital from the Japanese Government.

Kenji Murata, JICA Vietnam Representative Assistant, said the organisation always attaches importance to developing its projects in Vietnam’s northwestern area, including Dien Bien province.

He said he hopes that Vietnam and Japan will enhance mutual understanding, realise all the goals of the projects, and foster the two countries’ friendly relations.

Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Lo Van Tien highlighted the Japanese Government and people’s support to the province’s poverty reduction and sustainable development.

He called for more support from the Japanese side to other areas, contributing to further developing the northwest province.-VNA