The government of Japan is seeking to assist Vietnam in infrastructure development to help it build an industrialized economy, said Ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki. Tanizaki, at a talk with Hanoi Foreign Trade University students yesterday, stressed that for the success of industrialization, infrastructure development is indispensable. With the long-term objective of strengthening transport connectivity in the Mekong region, Japan would join forces with Vietnam to develop infrastructure in the East-West and Southern Economic corridors, he added. Currently, many infrastructure projects enjoy Japanese investment and include the Nhat Tan Bridge as well as the HCM City – Long Thanh – Dau Giay and Danang – Quang Ngai highways. In addition, Japan would support Vietnam in building core industries to help it in its modernizing quest to 2020. Vietnam is now the second largest recipient of official development assistance (ODA) from Japan. The number of Japanese ODA projects in Vietnam was more than 200 last year, with total investment of $1.8 billion. (Vietnam News Mar 23)
