Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City wants to continue receiving Japan’s assistance for some major development projects, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai said. Mr. Hai has expressed his hope at a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuyaki Tanizaki in HCM City on Jan 22, adding that the funding will go to Cho Ray 2 hospital and Long Thanh international airport projects.Mr. Hai highly valued the efficiency of the projects financed with Japan’s official development assistance. “The projects have positive impact on the city’s economic and social development,” he said.Mr. Tanizaki spoke highly of the city’s efforts to support the projects to build East-West Highway and urban railway No.1 linking Ben Thanh and Suoi Tien. He also pledged to work with the city on projects in health care, education and sea port.The Japanese government provided a total of $32.47 million in grants for 434 development projects in Vietnam from 2009 when it resumed providing ODA for the Southeast Asian nation to end-2011.At the Consultative Group (CG) meeting in Hanoi late 2012, the Japanese government pledged to provide $2.6 billion in official development assistance (ODA) for 2013. (vietnamplus.vn Jan 22)
