Speaking to open the meeting, Director Mai Thi Lien Huong said that, the 13th regular meeting on technical cooperation in the field of water drainage and wastewater treatment between the Ministry of Construction and the MLIT marked 10 years of cooperation relationship between two sides. On December 13, 2010, two ministries signed the first Memorandum of Technical Cooperation in the field of water drainage and wastewater treatment. Over the past 10 years, the two ministries have cooperated and achieved many good results in a number of activities, including: Strengthening drainage and wastewater management capacities; strengthen research and technology transfer activities; promote cooperation between localities and businesses of two countries in the field of drainage and wastewater treatment. The objective of the 13th regular meeting was to summarize the cooperation activities over the past 10 years and guide the next activities between two ministries, share Japan's experiences in sustainable wastewater management and discuss, propose cooperative activities between two sides in the field of drainage and wastewater treatment.
The project of the Japanese Government under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between two ministries, covering 5 key areas: Support for making and implementation system of legal documents; Response to challenges in planning and implementing drainage and wastewater treatment systems; Human resource development; Cooperation between cities and businesses; Establishment of Vietnam Drainage Center (VSC).
At the meeting, Mr HISAOKA Natsuki – Director of Foreign drainage projects - The Department of Drainage and Sewerage Management under the MLIT summarized results under five priority areas in the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2017. MLIT has assisted the MoC in developing and implementing policies to effectively implement and manage drainage and wastewater infrastructure in regions and provinces in Vietnam. In the coming time, the Ministry of Construction's Technical Infrastructure Department and JICA experts would conduct a Review of the implementation of Decree 80 (Decree 80/2014/ND-CP on drainage and wastewater treatment) issued in 2014 to propose updates and amendments to Decree 80 and related circulars.
The whole meeting
Speaking at the meeting, Director Mai thi Lien Huong and Director Ryuji UEMATSU emphasized the importance of cooperation and sharing technologies and experiences to achieve successful above results. Until now, there have cooperation activities between provinces and cities of Vietnam and provinces and cities of Japan under the framework of JICA projects, such as: Hanoi City and Yokohama City; Ho Chi Minh City and Osaka City; Hai Phong City and Kitakyushu City; Kien Giang Province and Kobe City; Quang Ninh and Shiga provinces.
At the meeting, reports and speeches of representatives of localities having cooperation relationship with Japan showed that activities in 5 areas of cooperation were carried out smoothly and achieved outstanding results. Vietnam has a great demand in the operation and maintenance of drainage and wastewater treatment facilities, especially in large cities and places with high population density.
Director Ryuji UEMATSU thanked the Ministry of Construction, agencies, departments and localities for attending the meeting, and appreciated the results achieved by two sides in the meeting. Mr. Ryuji UEMATSU also wished to strengthen cooperation between two sides, especially in the field of drainage, wastewater treatment and anti-urban flooding.
At the meeting, on behalf of two ministries, Director Mai Thi Lien Huong and Director Ryuji UEMATSU signed the 13th Regular Meeting Minutes.
Written by: Ninh Hoang Hanh
Translated by: Mai Anh