During his remarks at the recent 8^th Da Nang Urban Development Forum in the city, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan thanked the Yokohama government for their active support in promoting the urban development in Da Nang over the past 5 years.

Vice Chairman Tuan speaking at the event

Vice Chairman Tuan said that he was very impressed with an automated guideway transit (AGT) model suggested by the Yokohama authorities and the Japan Transportation Planning Association (JTPA).

“In recent years, Da Nang has paid special attention to conducting research and developing public transport services in a bid to ease traffic congestion in the inner- city. Therefore, the AGT model is a good idea for the city”, he noted.

JTPA’s expert Yasahiro Nakata said that his association was conducting research into a AGT route connecting Da Nang International Airport and Vo Nguyen Giap Street for the purpose of tourism development, and another one between the inner city and an urban area on the northwest side of the city, and the later will pass industrial parks.

The Japanese expert highlighted the necessity of developing AGT systems in Da Nang soon. He added that the application of this model would indeed help the city realise its target of becoming an environmentally-friendly city.

He noted “It will not take the city a lot of time to develop this AGT model, and its construction cost will be cheaper than that of monorail or metro routes”.

The signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding on training nurses

In reply, Vice Chairman Tuan asked relevant local agencies to work closely with the Yokohama authorities to make feasible proposals relating to public transport systems.

Mr Tuan also said that ideas and suggestions from domestic and foreign experts about the building of AGT systems in the city are always welcome in order to choose best solutions which match with the city’s current traffic situation.

Also at the forum, representatives from Yokohama and Da Nang signed a memorandum of understanding on training nurses.