Japanese ambassador arrives by train

As part of the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic ties, the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Train arrived in Da Nang at 11am on Thursday. Arriving on the train were the Ambassador of Japan to Viet Nam, Mr Yasuaki Tanizaki, and the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency in Viet Nam, Mr Tsuno Motonori.
When alighting at Da Nang’s railway station, the Japanese ambassador said that he had been very impressed by the beauty of the Vietnamese land and people during his trans-Viet Nam journey. He hoped that the train would give the people of the two countries the opportunity to understand more about the positive results of bilateral cooperation on the North-South rail route. He also emphasised that this train was intended as a bridge to boost the friendly relationship between the two countries, as well as to encourage Japan to promote more investment in air, rail and maritime transportation. This would help foster the socio-economic development of Da Nang, and that of the central region in general.
Mr Tanizaki added that in 2013 Japan remains the largest foreign investor in Viet Nam, with a total investment of 4 billion USD, and it is also Viet Nam’s largest ODA capital donor.
During his meeting on the same day with the municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman, Mr Phung Tan Viet, the Japanese diplomat promised that Japan would continue to provide ODA capital for the city’s socio-economic infrastructure development projects, especially the 2nd phase of the Tien Sa Port expansion. He affirmed that this project has been submitted to the Japanese government for consideration of ODA donation and building in the form of a public-private partnership.
The Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Train will make 30 trips on the Ha Noi-Ho Chi Minh City railway line from 8 May to 23 September. The purpose of these trips is to publicise the year of Viet Nam-Japan Friendship.