The first meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Coordination Committee was held in Hanoi on May 3 to discuss the implementation of the three large-scale infrastructure development projects, namely the Hoa Lac high-tech zone development project, the North-South highway project and the North-South express railway line project.

Taking part in the coordination committee on the Vietnamese side were Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc who is co-chairman of the committee and Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Transport and Science and Technology. On the Japanese side were Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Norio Hattori who co-chaired the committee and represented Japanese organisations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Japan External Trade Relations Organisation (JETRO).

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the implementation of these three projects which were agreed earlier by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his visit to Japan in October, 2006 and by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Vietnam in November, 2006, said Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc.

They noted that thanks to the effective cooperation between the two countries’ relevant agencies, the implementation of the three key projects has made significant progress.

Mr Phuc said it is imperative to build a special mechanism for the three ODA-funded projects, especially the project to build the North-South express railway line, which is of national importance and must be approved by the National Assembly.

Minister Phuc hoped that the three important projects will be carried out successfully, meeting the desire of the two countries’ people.

Currently, JICA is providing technical assistance to help upgrade the Hoa Lac High-Tech Park and to build a master plan to develop the national transportation system, including roads and north-south high-speed railway. In 2007, the Japanese Government will grant preferential credits to build the beltway 3 (linking Lang-Hoa Lac to Thanh Tri Bridge) and north-south roads (Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay). Japan will also help the railway sector train its engineers and staff in preparation for building the north-south high-speed railway.