During his reception on Wednesday for the Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam, Mr Kunio Umeda, Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh praised the Japanese government for their active assistance for the city to implement its ODA projects. 

Ambassador Umeda (third left) and Secretary Anh (third right)

The host highlighted the results of fruitful bilateral cooperation with the Japanese localities of Kawasaki, Yokohama and Sakai, especially in terms of investment and cultural exchange, over recent years. 

He revealed that Da Nang is planning to construct a dedicated industrial park for Japanese businesses, and a public Japan-Viet Nam Cultural Exchange Park, in the city.  He asked Ambassador Umeda to do his utmost to appeal for more Japanese businesses and organisations to invest in these projects, as well as in such aspects as hi-tech, tourism, and culture.  He also pledged that the local authorities would create very favourable conditions for them to operate effectively in the city.

In reply, the Japanese diplomat affirmed that his government is always willing to assist Da Nang in upgrading its infrastructure and organising Viet Nam-Japan cultural exchange events in the city.  A focus will be on helping the city successfully organise the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November 2017.

In another meeting, with Da Nang People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho, the Ambassador Umeda remarked that many businesses from his country are satisfied with the city’s good investment environment and its preferential policies for foreign investors.  He hoped that the city authorities will facilitate his government to establish a Japanese consulate here.

Ambassador Umeda (left) with Chairman Tho (Photo: danang.gov.vn)

Chairman Tho said that some local projects are in need of ODA capital from the Japanese government.  Included are the Hoa Lien Commune water supply plant, a solid waste and waste water treatment system, and the Lien Chieu Port.    

Also on the same day, Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Van Mien played host to some representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).  The visiting delegation was led by the Deputy Director General of ADB’s Strategy and Policy Department, Mr Tomoyuki Kimura.

Deputy Director Kimura said that ADB is creating a new product development strategy to meet the increasing demand from Asian countries.  He hoped that some public-private partnership (PPP) projects between Da Nang and Japan will be implemented effectively in the city in the near future.

Vice Chairman Mien thanked Mr Kimura for his active involvement in helping Da Nang effectively implement some key projects during his tenure as Director of ADB Viet Nam.  He added that the city authorities have always shown a keen interest in deploying more PPP projects.  The public-private cooperation will help to reduce the financial burden on the city’s budget for public investment, lower the public debt, and enhance the efficiency of investment and state management work.