Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wants Japan to continue providing new-generation ODA loans to develop strategic transport infrastructure projects, including the North-South high-speed railway.
On the afternoon of December 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with his counterpart Kishida Fumio in Tokyo, marking the sixth meeting between the two countries' Prime Ministers in the past two years and the second this year.
The Prime Minister proposed that Japan continue to provide new-generation ODA loans for strategic projects on transport infrastructure development, the North-South high-speed railway project, urban railways, supporting industries, digital transformation, green transformation, and healthcare.
Vietnam aims to start construction of the North-South high-speed railway in 2030 and complete and put the entire route into operation in 2045. The Ministry of Transport is seeking opinions on three scenarios for the North-South railway, including two scenarios for 350 km/h trains carrying passengers exclusively and a reserve for freight.
Japan is currently the largest ODA donor to Vietnam, with a total loan value of 2,812.8 billion yen (27.5 billion USD) as of the end of fiscal year 2020. ODA capital focuses on key areas such as transportation, energy, and urban infrastructure. In 2023, the total value of Japan's ODA loans to Vietnam will exceed 100 billion yen (about 674 million USD) for the first time since fiscal year 2017.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held talks on the afternoon of December 16 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Nhat Bac
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said that Vietnamese human resources, including high-quality human resources and skilled interns, are indispensable for Japan's socio-economic development.
Japan will support Vietnam in industrialization, modernization, building an independent and self-reliant economy, and integrating deeply into the world. The two countries will cooperate in the field of energy transition and emission reduction through the Asia Zero Emission Community Initiative Center (AZEC) established by Japan.
A joint coordination group between the two governments will be established to promote the progress and effectiveness of a number of ongoing economic projects, such as the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant. Regarding agricultural products, the two leaders agreed to promote quarantine procedures to open the market for green-skinned grapefruit and Japanese grapes.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to closely coordinate on regional and international issues of mutual concern, actively contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Vietnam and Japan support each other at multilateral forums and international and regional organizations.
The two leaders witnessed the handover of ODA cooperation documents between the two countries, including the fourth loan exchange note for the Ho Chi Minh City urban railway construction project, Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien section; the JDS human resource development scholarship project exchange note, and the K Hospital equipment supply project exchange note, worth 42.3 billion yen (nearly 300 million USD).
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is on a working trip to Japan to attend the ASEAN-Japan 50th Anniversary Summit and conduct bilateral activities from December 15-18.
2023 is the year Vietnam and Japan celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November. Japan is Vietnam's leading economic partner, ranking first in providing ODA, second in labor cooperation, third in investment and tourism, and fourth in trade.
Source link
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)