The building of a highway linking the capital city of Hanoi with the mountainous province of Thai Nguyen started on November 24 under the watchful eye of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The highway is seen as an important project in the country’s strategy to develop its transport and communications network by 2020. Its construction will help to promote socio-economic exchanges between Hanoi and Thai Nguyen as well as between Hanoi and other northern mountainous provinces.

The four-lane 61.3 km highway is being built at a cost of VND 8.1 trillion (US$450 million). Of this amount, VND 6.1 trillion is from Japanese-funded ODA loans. It is expected to be finished in 42 months and will enable vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 100 km/hour.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, PM Dung highlighted the project’s importance in Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen’s socio-economic development process. The PM told the local authorities to review their master plan for developing industry and services so that they can make full use of the opportunities the new highway will offer.

On the occasion, the PM thanked the Japanese Government for providing the loan and said that he hoped that Japan will continue to offer Vietnam loans for infrastructure projects for the mutual benefit of both countries. (VNA)