Hanoi (VNA)🍷 - Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) is set to reinforce its commitment to cooperation with Vietnam acrossfour critical areas, including high-quality infrastructure development, humanresource development, healthcare advancements and climate change mitigation.

JICA's chief representative, Sugano Yuichi, underlined thesignificance of this year, marking the 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnamdiplomatic relations, emphasising that the relationship between the twocountries has never been stronger. "In the future, JICA will continue to contribute to Vietnam’ssustainable development, both in terms of physical infrastructure and thedevelopment of human resources, thereby further strengthening the burgeoningbond between Vietnam and Japan," Sugano said. Over the past three decades, the Official Development Assistance(ODA) cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has flourished, solidifying theirenduring partnership. This collaboration has yielded remarkable results invarious sectors, including economic cooperation, investments and thecultivation of human resources. As the steward of Japan's ODA initiatives, JICAhas played a pivotal role in nurturing this enduring alliance. Throughout the 30-year journey of cooperation between Vietnamand Japan, there have been over 100 ongoing projects spanning diverse domains,such as education, healthcare, transportation, energy and agriculture. Vietnamstands among the top five countries benefiting from Japanese ODA. "Since the resumption of ODA to Vietnam in 1992, Japan hascontributed over three trillion JPY (equivalent to approximately 600trillion VND) in cumulative ODA capital. Japan holds the distinction of being themost significant ODA donor among OECD member countries, underscoring itssteadfast commitment to Vietnam's development," Sugano affirmed. Japanese ODA has had a profound impact on infrastructuredevelopment in Vietnam, with projects like the National Highway 1, theNorth-South Expressway, and port constructions such as Lach Huyen and Cai Mep –Thi Vai ports fortifying Vietnam's economic foundation. The energy sector hasalso experienced substantial growth through Japanese ODA, with the constructionof power plants bolstering the nation's energy infrastructure. Japan's support has significantly benefited healthcare in Vietnam,with investments not only in core hospitals like Bach Mai Hospital but also invaccine production. Collaborating with JICA has facilitated the production of100% of measles and rubella vaccines, contributing significantly to expandedvaccination plans. In the field of education, JICA's partnership with Can ThoUniversity, spanning over half a century, is emblematic of their enduringrelationship. Recent initiatives like the Vietnam Japan University (VJU)project, which began in 2016, continue to produce high-quality human resourcesfor Vietnam while fostering international student exchanges. As the 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relationsapproaches, the future of this dynamic partnership remains promising. Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh has articulated his aspirations for sustainable development anda green economy, setting the stage for upcoming ODA cooperation plans. Looking ahead, JICA will prioritise four key areas ofcooperation. Firstly, there will be a focus on high-quality infrastructureprojects, notably the HCM City urban railway and Noi Bai International Airport.Secondly, human resource development will continue to be a cornerstone ofcollaboration, with Can Tho University and VJU at the forefront. Thirdly, the health sector will receive attention, with JICAsupporting the implementation of remote medical systems and digitaltransformation techniques at local medical facilities. Additionally,collaboration with Japanese private enterprises, NGOs, and universities willenhance rehabilitation techniques and medical care to address the challenge ofan aging population in Vietnam. Lastly, JICA will actively engage in climate change initiatives,utilising the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to support afforestation activities andnatural environment protection. This aligns with the Vietnamese Government'svision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, marking a significant steptowards addressing climate change challenges. "In the future, I hope that not only JICA but also relatedparties such as Japanese universities, local governments, private companies andnon-governmental organisations will continue to participate in ODA projects toenhance people-to-people exchanges and further promote the growing relationshipbetween the two countries," JICA’s chief representative said./.