In the morning of 13rd July, the Minister Dinh La Thang had a meeting with the Secretary General of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Mr. Raymond Benjamin.

The Minister Dinh La Thang met ICAO Secretary General, Mr. Raymond Benjamin

At the meeting, the Minister Dinh La Thang thanked Mr. Raymond Benjamin for visiting the Ministry of Transport of Vietnam. The Minister was also pleased to announce that: In about five recent years, despite Vietnam's economy has been strongly affected by the global economic crisis, Vietnam aviation has still maintained an average growth rate of 14 % of passengers and 16-17% of the goods. In 2014, the total air transport market of Vietnam reached 33.15 million passengers and 741 thousand tons of cargo.

"Currently, there are 53 foreign airlines of 25 countries exploiting Vietnam and three of Vietnam Airlines are exploiting 56 international routes to 17 countries and territories around the world. Besides Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam has many low-cost airlines which are developing very effectively", Minister Dinh La Thang informed ICAO representative.

Regarding aerial ports, the Minister said Vietnam now has 21 aerial ports, airports which are operating civil aviation, including 7 international aerial ports.

"Recently, the National Assembly of Vietnam has also adopted the policy of building Long Thanh international airport with a total capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tons of goods  per year when it is completed and put into operation" - the Minister informed.

Concerning the implementation of the policies and recommendations of ICAO, the Minister confirmed that in the recent time Vietnam has actively implemented measures to strengthen liberalization of aviation market. Up to date, Vietnam has signed, joined and implemented more than bilateral and multilateral 70 international treaties in air transport, creating a legal basis for Vietnamese airlines as well as foreign airlines to departure and arrive to Vietnam. At the same time, the Government of Vietnam and the Ministry of Transport also have many policies to encourage foreign airlines to Vietnam such as supporting procedures, reducing service fees at the aerial ports, airport.

ICAO Representative affirmed that Vietnam is always an active member of ICAO, ICAO committed to give a maximum support to the proposals from Vietnam

Regarding the safety, security work, the Minister affirmed that this is always considered as an important, crucial issue for the development of civil aviation. Vietnam has always updated the regulations, supported and fully, seriously implemented the programs, recommendations of ICAO on aviation security, safety.

For flight management activities, the Minister said when the 38th ICAO General Assembly adopted Plan to upgrade the aviation system blocks, Vietnam has developed and implemented a Project on researching, preparing and implementing plan to upgrade the aviation system block scientifically.

Also at the meeting, the Minister Dinh La Thang also expressed his desire to continue receiving the support of ICAO and specially ICAO Secretary General Mr. Raymond Benjamin in improving ability to ensure the safety of aviation in Vietnam.

Initially, the Minister expected ICAO to support the work of training aviation supervisors as well as support technical cooperation for the implementation of new information, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems (CNS/ATM) and plan to upgrade the aviation system in Vietnam...

Speaking at the meeting, ICAO Secretary General, Mr. Raymond Benjamin also expressed his pleasure to see that Vietnam Aviation has had considerable development in the recent time. Vietnam airlines are actively investing and upgrading the fleet, improving service quality ... Most recently, Vietnam Airlines has received and put into use Airbus A350-900, coming Boeing 787-9.

ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin also affirmed that Vietnam is always an active member of ICAO, contributing to enhance the role and position of ICAO. In the future, ICAO commits to provide the maximum support to the proposals from Vietnam.