In this morning (21st July), at the head office of the Ministry of Transport, the Minister Dinh La Thang had a meeting with Mr. Hiroshi Fukada, Ambassador of Japan in Vietnam on north - south high-speed railway and Long Thanh international airort project.

Minister Dinh La Thang received the Ambassador of Japan in Vietnam, Mr. Fukada Hiroshi

At the meeting, the Ambassador of Japan in Vietnam Fukada Hiroshi discussed with the Minister some contents related to north - south high-speed railway and Long Thanh international airport project.

For north - south high-speed railway project, Mr. Fukada Hiroshi said: In a recent meeting of the Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the two sides agreed to cooperate in this project, especially the issue of feasibility study of the project. Currently JICA is preparing a feasibility study for the project on the basis of a new plan that the Vietnam launched.

"Japan pay a great attention to the Long Thanh international airport project. The Japanese side will consider to provide ODA to this project. On that basis, Japan wishes that the Government of Vietnam will create favorable conditions for Japanese firms to be involved in the project, while facilitateand enable JICA to conduct a feasibility study for the project "- Mr. Fukada Hiroshi stressed.

Thanking the Government and people of Japan as well as the Ambassador, the officials of the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam, Chief Representative of JICA in Vietnam for their support and assistance to the transport sector in special important projects, works. The Minister Dinh La Thang stressed that: These traffic works have really changed the face of transportation in Vietnam and actively, significantly contributed to economic - social development of Vietnam in the recent years.

"MOT hope to continue receiving the support and assistance from the Ambassador, Chief Representative of JICA in Vietnam in the development of Transport sector of Vietnam" - the Minister said.

About Long Thanh international airport project, the Minister said the National Assembly has approved policy allowing investment in the project. In the coming time, the Ministry of Transport will prepare feasibility study report to submit to the National Assembly again. To minimize the impact of public debt, the National Assembly has passed the policy to implement the project in the form of public-private partnerships. In the capital structure of the project, the budget will be used for the clearance, ODA capital will be used to invest in flight zones (runway, airfields), the fund of private enterprises will be used to invest in passenger station.

On this basis, the Ministry of Transport welcomed and appreciated if the Government, people and companies of Japan are interested in this project.

Thanking JICA for supporting the Ministry of Transport in the pre-feasibility study of North - South high speed railway project, the Minister welcomed if JICA continues to perform a feasibility study for the project.

"However, according to the railway development strategy which has been approved, in the first phase the investment construction will be made at a rate of 160 - 200 km/h; then raised to 350 km/h. The guideline is to implement some routes in advance, such as Ho Chi Minh City- Nha Trang, Hanoi - Vinh "- the Minister said.