Mindful that traffic and transport are the crucial artery of the economy and the powerful, synchronous and modern traffic system is the bridge for effective economic development, the Government of Vietnam has spared no effort to deepen traffic and transport development with advanced nations in the world, including South Korea - a leading partner in both scale and attitude of cooperation.
According to the extensive bilateral traffic development cooperation policy between Vietnam and South Korea, many organisations and enterprises of South Korea have actively taken part in traffic infrastructure development investment projects in Vietnam, contributing to the strengthening of the two-way cooperative ties. Particularly, the South Korean Government has considerably granted ODA loans to Vietnam to develop traffic and transport sectors while encouraging its companies to take part in BOT and PPP-style road, seaport, airport projects in Vietnam like Lach Huyen, Van Phong, Cai Mep Thi Vai ports and airport expansion.
In the past, many South Korean firms like Keum Ho Asiana, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Hanshin and Posco have also invested in key traffic projects in Vietnam. Remarkably, many South Korean firms have won Hanoi - Lao Cai expressway construction project and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay highway construction project. The presence of leading South Korean firms not only enables Vietnam to develop its traffic and transport infrastructure to serve its national economic development but also deepens the two-way close cooperative ties. The Government of South Korea is always willing to share its experience in building legal documents, developing highways, transferring express railway technologies and building seaports and airports with Vietnam, especially its experience in minimising traffic accidents.
During their Vietnam visit on October 20, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and senior cabinet officials brought the traffic and transport cooperation between the two nations to a new chapter. During most dialogues between leaders of the two nations, the traffic and transport sectors took special interest in many new cooperative contents. Particularly, the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of South Korea has funded Vietnam to build artery traffic projects such as Rach Gia bypass road, Cai Lon Bridge and Cai Be Bridge. In the spirit of continued supports for Vietnamese infrastructure system development, EDCF is presently considering loans for three projects in the Mekong Delta region, i.e. Vam Cong Bridge, Lo Te - Rach Soi Road and a southern coastal road. Mr. Dong Soo Kim, President of EDCF, said: The Government of South Korea will consider and balance funds to finance these projects in the fiscal year of 2010. The South Korean Government also pledged to give priority to infrastructure development projects in Vietnam, especially for traffic network development like Hanoi - Hai Phong Highway, Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City Road, Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang Railway and Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho Road.
Apart from financial supports, South Korea also cooperated with the Government of Vietnam to regularly organise seminars, talks and conferences on core issues in developing a synchronous and complete traffic system to serve the national economic development. From important arguments by South Korean senior experts on experience in traffic infrastructure development to discussions on construction principles and effective traffic system operation, dialogues and forums have become good opportunities for managers, policymakers and technicians of Vietnam to learn, exchange and share experience with professionals and managers of South Korea.
Not only helping Vietnam with modern traffic infrastructure development, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Transport have also signed a document on the overall study on sustainable traffic development in Vietnam until 2020 and vision to 2030. This is the second time JICA assists the Government of Vietnam to conduct the Vietnam National Transport Development Strategy Study, called VITRANSS for short. In this study, in addition to establishing the strategy and master plan for the period until 2030, JICA will focus on four main goals: to build investment priority programme for the period 2011-2015, to consider the feasibility of North - South high-speed railway project, to build the North - South highway network, and to transfer technology to Vietnamese partners. The Government of Vietnam hopes, with supports from JICA, the transport and traffic development plan until 2020 and toward 2030 will be a sustainable and feasible plan.
Good progresses of transport and traffic investment projects, supports and active cooperation promotions for mutual development of Vietnam and South Korea in the field of transport and traffic have contributed to deepening friendship ties and bringing relationship to a new high.
Bao Ngoc
Vietnamese
