Ho Chi Minh City, JICA work together to celebrate 50 years of Vietnam – Japan relations

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai and Mr. Shimizu Akira, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam Office, with participants at the meeting. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

During the meeting, Mr. Mai acknowledged and highly appreciated the support of the Japanese Government, including JICA, as well as the efforts and contributions of Mr. Shimizu Akira in promoting cooperative relations between Japan and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City.

He said that the city would continue to coordinate with Mr. Shimizu Akira’s successor and JICA Vietnam to continue implementing cooperation projects being implemented between the two parties in Ho Chi Minh City, at first the acceleration of the construction of metro line so that it can be completed by the end of 2023.

Regarding the project to improve the water environment in Ho Chi Minh City, he said that the city would try to accelerate the completion of the project and the expanded wastewater treatment plant is expected to be inaugurated in mid-2023. These two projects are aiming at celebrating the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

He expressed his hope that in the coming time the two sides will have more cooperation programs in many fields more effectively, forming a new cooperation program in 2023, an important year in the two countries' diplomatic relations.

Mr. Shimizu Akira thanked the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City for always accompanying and supporting him during his working term in Vietnam. Despite facing many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as some problems from projects such as metro line 1, city leaders always wholeheartedly share, support and cooperate to solve difficulties. The year 2023 is a special year when Japan and Vietnam celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Key cooperation projects in Ho Chi Minh City are entering the sprint stage. Therefore, Mr. Shimizu Akira wished to continue to receive the attention and support of the city's leaders so that the projects are completed as planned.

He added that the JICA Vietnam Office suggested that periodic dialogues between JICA Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders be resumed in the near future, contributing to solving difficulties and obstacles, as well as having more opportunities for the two sides to learn and implement new cooperation programs./.