Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong (R) and Ousmane Dione, Country Director of the WB in Vietnam at the siging ceremony (Source: VNA) HCMCity (VNA) - The World Bank (WB) and Ho Chi Minh City signed amemorandum of understanding on comprehensive partnership for the 2018-2020period on November 14.
The document creates a firm foundation and a motive for deeper and effectivecooperation between the two sides, Chairmanof the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said at the receptionfor Ousmane Dione, Country Director of the WB in Vietnam on the day.
TheWB is one of the long-term partners of Ho Chi Minh City and WB-funded projectsin the city have contributed to improving the quality of life for locals, he said.
He stressed that assistance from the WB has helped the Vietnamese city improve infrastructurefacilities, thus fostering its sustainable development.
Phong affirmed that HCM City hopes to receive more support and learn fromexperience of foreign partners, including the WB, towards implementing developmentstrategies of the city.
The municipal authorities and relevant agencies will continue to work closelywith the WB to implement the document between the two sides, bringing benefitsto the both.
For his part, Ousmane affirmed the WB is a long-term and reliable partner ofHCM City over the last two decades.
The bank has supported the city’s development process through its financial andtechnical assistance, focusing on upgrading urban infrastructure, improvingwater drainage system and urban sanitation works, and managing the urbantraffic system, he said.
Eight WB-funded projects worth 1.2 billion USD have significantly contributedto the city’s economic and infrastructure development, benefiting millions oflocal residents.
Ousmane underlined the need for HCM City to make urgent actions to address importantchallenges, especially in transport development, risk response, floodprevention amidst climate change.
He pledged that the WB would continuously provide support to and join in HCMCity’s efforts to develop it into an international city.
According to the official, the WB wants to promote strategic cooperation withHCM City in the fields of urban transport, environmental sanitation, energy saving,urban planning, public-private cooperation and sustainable budget, which will beincluded in the bank’s long-term assistancepackage for the city in the coming time.-VNA
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