Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Minh Vũ hosted a reception in Hà Nội on Tuesday for Yoneda Gen, Director-General of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Minh Vũ hosted a reception in Hà Nội on Tuesday for Yoneda Gen, Director-General of the Southeast Asia and Pacific Department of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during which he appreciated JICA’s role and practical contributions to Việt Nam’s development over more than three decades.

Vũ highlighted the agency’s support for the country’s major ODA projects such as Bãi Cháy Bridge, Nhật Tân Bridge, HCM City’s Metro Line No.1, and Chợ Rẫy Hospital.

Sharing and agreeing with Yoneda’s views, the official called on the two sides to continue close coordination to advance cooperation projects in line with agreements reached by high-ranking leaders, ensuring timely ground-breaking and implementation as committed.

He also expressed his hope that JICA will continue to urge the Japanese Government to consider providing Việt Nam with next-generation ODA loans to support the country’s key, large-scale projects.

For his part, Yoneda thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its active and effective collaboration in promoting the implementation of Japanese ODA-funed projects.

He reaffirmed that JICA attaches great importance to Việt Nam–Japan relations, noting that Japanese businesses highly value Việt Nam’s socio-economic development achievements and are eager to expand investment and business operations in the country in the coming period.

Concuring with Vũ’s remarks, he affirmed that JICA will continue its efforts to support Vietnam’s development and closely coordinate with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and relevant agencies to accelerate key ODA cooperation projects, including the Việt Nam–Japan University project, the Chợ Rẫy Hospital project, as well as those on climate change response and disaster-resilient rural development in northern mountainous provinces. — VNA/VNS