A ceremony took place on Monday in Da Nang to mark the inauguration of the expanded APEC Sculpture Garden, which stands in harmony with the status quo of the current namesake park.

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (3rd right), Standing Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee cum People's Council Chairman Luong Nguyen Minh Triet (2nd right), municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary cum People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh (4th right), former Chairman of municipal People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho (5th right), Chairman of the municipal Fatherland Front Committee Ngo Xuan Thang (1st right) attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the expanded APEC Sculpture Garden, January 10, 2022. Photo: TRIEU TUNG

This much-awaited project made its debut in the celebration for the 25^th anniversary of Da Nang’s recognition as centrally-governed city (January 1, 1997 - 2022).

In attendance at the inauguration ceremony were Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang, Standing Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee cum People's Council Chairman Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary cum People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh and some representatives of the local authorities.

Addressing the event, Chairman Chinh highly lauded the project’s developers, design consultants, contractors and other relevant units for having overcome difficulties, especially the COVID-19 impacts, to deploy the project on schedule and in a safe manner.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh addresses the inauguration ceremony of the expanded APEC Sculpture Garden, January 10, 2022. Photo: TRIEU TUNG

The municipal government leader also affirmed that the opening of the expanded APEC Sculpture Garden will create a new architectural highlight on the eastern bank of the iconic Han River.

The new project will connect with a route dedicated for pedestrians and bicycle riders stretching along the Bach Dang Street- Nguyen Van Troi Bridge-Tran Hung Dao Street.

In the near future, the municipal authorities will also implement an artistic lighting project on both sides of the Han River with the theme ‘The River of Light’.

These above mentioned are expected to contribute to improving the spiritual life of the city's dwellers, and serve as attractive tourism products for domestic and foreign tourists during their stay in the city.

According to Director of the Da Nang Management Board of Infrastructure Construction and Urban Development Projects Nguyen Huu Nhat, the expanded APEC Sculpture Garden project has been developed at a cost of over VND759 billion funded by the municipal budget.

Located in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang, the over VND759 billion, 8,668m2 the expanded area is bounded by Bach Dang Street to the east, 2 September Street to the west, Binh Minh 4 Street to the south, and the existing APEC Park to the north. Photo: XUAN SON

Work started on this project on October 15, 2020.

The expanded complex highlights a public park, lawns, walkways, a stroll gardens and other auxiliary facilities.

With a construction density of 32.8%, the project comprises one basement, two semi-floating floors, and especially, a kite-shaped dome named ‘Da Nang – High Flying Kite’.

The first floor comprises a rest space, a souvenir sales service area, a tourism information area for visitors and a public toilet. The second floor is designed with community space, trees, fountains and walkways. The basement consists of public parking areas and technical rooms.

In recognition of their achievements in the project deployment, five units and the same number of individuals were honoured by the municipal government.

Reporting by TRIEU TUNG – Translating by A. THU