Da Nang People's Committee (PC) Chairman Huynh Duc Tho and PC Vice Chairman Le Trung Chinh recently met with new World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam Carolyn Turk in Ha Noi in order to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations in the coming years.

Da Nang People's Committee (PC) Chairman Huynh Duc Tho (centre) and PC Vice Chairman Le Trung Chinh meeting with new World Bank Country Director for Viet Nam Carolyn Turk (right)

Over the past two decades, cooperation projects between Da Nang and WB reached a combined total of more than 500 million USD worth of value, the majority of which were channeled into helping Da Nang develop improve its infrastructure system, increase its administrational capacity, shape its key policies of the socio-economic duty.

In particular, Chairman Tho asked WB to extend the implementation period of the WB-funded ‘Da Nang Sustainable City Development Project (SCDP) until June 2023.

This large-scale project aims to expand access of local residents to improved drainage, wastewater collection and treatment services, the arterial road network, and public transport in local selected areas.

The meeting between the Da Nangand WB delegates in progress

Over the 2021 – 2030 period, there were discussions on the deployment of a handful of incentive infrastructure investment projects in Da Nang.

Notable are a new crossing over the Han River at the intersection of Dong Da - Tran Phu streets connecting through the junction of the Van Don - Tran Hung Dao streets in order to ease traffic congestion and ensure the smooth movement of vehicles on major streets, and a tunnel connecting the city’s International Airport with its road network in the western part.

Besides, the commencement on such other projects as the relocation of the Da Nang Railway Station and urban redevelopment and smart traffic models, such mass rapid transit (MRT) means as  metros, tramways, monorails were taken into account.

An artist's impression of the a new crossing over the Han River at the intersection of Dong Da - Tran Phu streets connecting through the junction of the Van Don - Tran Hung Dao streets

In her perspectives, WB Viet Nam Director Carolyn Turk suggested that the Da Nang administration as soon as possible work with ministries and national government agencies to implement the ‘Development Policy Operations’ (DPO) programme under which a total of 100 million US$ in loan would go to the implementation of Da Nang’s priority development projects.

In addition, WB Viet Nam showed its active willingness to assist Da Nang in enhancing the management capacity and ensuring sustainable development.

By TRIEU TUNG- Translated by A.T