Japanese retail group, Aeon, pledged to continue its helps to the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to build 30 schools worth nearly $5 million at a working session on May 25 with local authorities. This is part of a project on building schools and forestation inked between the group and the provincial People’s Committee during the 2010-2013 period. The group, however, asked to postpone the second phase which includes the construction of 10 schools until 2012 due to the adverse impacts of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Of the schools in the first phase, the Phu Da Primary School No. 2 in Phu Vang district was put into operation while nine others are under construction. Under the project, Aeon also pledges to help the province plant 34 hectares of forests in Lap An lagoon, Lang Co town, Phu Loc district within three years and carry out a five-year forest protection plan with a total investment of $100,000. Thirty hectares have been put under trees. At the May 25 meeting, Aeon President Akihiko Harada spoke highly of the province’s efforts during the project’s implementation and expressed his hope that the project will help to raise local people’s awareness of the significant role of forests as well as wildlife protection. Nguyen Van Cao, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, thanked the Japanese side for their support and offered his condolences over losses Japanese people are suffering from the damaging natural disasters. (vietnamplus.vn May 26)
