Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong (4th) and Tsuno Motonori (5th), General Secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association (JVFA) in Japan’s Kansai region. (Photo: VNA)

On May 15, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong made the statement while receiving Tsuno Motonori, General Secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association (JVFA) in Japan’s Kansai region, who is on a working visit to the city.

The official expressed his belief that his guest will make further contributions to HCM City’s development via effective projects as a consultant for many JICA projects in Vietnam and foster the city's economic cooperation and cultural exchanges with Kansai and Japan as JVFA official.

Tsuno, who was JICA chief representative in Vietnam for 2008-2013, stressed his desire to introduce quality and energy-saving Japanese technology products to the southern locality in line with the city's green urban development criteria.

Concerning the local Thu Thiem tunnel built with Japanese official development assistance (ODA), the visiting General Secretary noted its effective operation after 12 years. He said the Japanese side wants to cooperate with the city to carry out a project on surveying and improving the tunnel’s ventilation control system with advanced technology serving increasing traffic volume and energy saving requirements.

He also underscored his hope to contribute to the growth of HCM City, the local implementation of JICA projects, and activities promoting its friendship and cooperation with the Japanese region.

Kansai, consisting of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures, is considered a major cultural, political and economic center of Japan. Osaka is home to the largest number of Vietnamese studying and working in the East Asian nation.