The 9^th Da Nang Urban Development Forum is taking place in Japanese city of Yokohama from 9 -11 September.

Vice Chairman Dung (front row, 6th, left) taking a souvenir photo with Japanese participants at the forum

The event is being co-chaired by Da Nang People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung and Yokohama City Deputy Mayor Katsunori Watanabe.

During the 3-day event, the fruitful results from the bilateral cooperation programmes between Da Nang and Yokohama over the past years are reviewed.

Besides, the forum features discussions about some future bilateral cooperative programmes between the two cities. The focus is on developing public transport, implementing port authority projects, handling environmental pollution, appealing for FDI inflows into hi-tech and information technology industries, and building a smarter city.

In his remarks at the forum, Vice Chairman Dung highly lauded the all-around cooperation between the two cities in recent years.

Mr Dung also highly appreciated the mode of cooperation between the Yokohama government and private sectors through the Yokohama Partnership of Resources and Technologies (Y-PORT) and the Yokohama Urban Solution Alliance (YUSA). He expressed his hope that the Yokohama government would continue to share its experience with Da Nang in order for the local government to develop the similar models in the locality.

Mr Dung asked for help from the Yokohama authorities to raise local residents’ awareness about sorting trash at source, and transfer water and air environment monitoring technologies. In addition, assistance will be given to train human resources in information technology and hi-tech industries, build smart cities, and care for the elderly.

Leaders of Da Nang and Yokohama authorities witnessing the signing ceremonies of cooperative agreements between departments and agencies of the two sides

A representative from the Yokohama authorities agreed with cooperation suggestions made by Da Nang’s leaders. He also urged Da Nang to join forces with the Japanese city government to effectively implement cooperation projects during the 2019-2022 period in order to develop Da Nang urban area in a sustainable manner.

Also at the forum, leaders of Da Nang and Yokohama cities witnessed the signing ceremonies of cooperative agreements between departments and agencies of the two sides. In particular, a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting the bilateral cooperation relations between Da Nang and Yokohama, the Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded power saving project, and the industrial wastewater management project.

In the next two days, participants at the event will discuss and visit port management and development models, and public transportation systems.