Attending the meeting were leaders of a number of provincial departments and agencies and related units.

Overview of working session.

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Trong Hai gave an overview of the socio-economic development of Lao Cai province; cooperation situation between Lao Cai province and ADB. Accordingly, up to now, Lao Cai province has cooperated with ADB in many programs and projects with a total capital of nearly 200 million USD (about 4,000 billion VND), accounting for about 40% of the total ODA capital in the province. ADB's programs and projects have been implemented effectively in Lao Cai, contributing significantly to the province's socio-economic development, especially the construction of connected transport infrastructure and tourism infrastructure and development of education.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Trong Hai informed the delegation about ADB projects in Lao Cai.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also gave an overview of Lao Cai's Sustainable Urban and Infrastructure Development Project. Accordingly, the project has a total investment of more than 116 million USD, including ADB loan of 83 million USD, the rest is the counterpart capital of the province. The project has 3 main components: Highly-Resilient Infrastructure and Livelihood Improvement (this component includes 4 items: Upgrading Sa Pa - Sau Chua - Hau Thao Road, Upgrading Sa Pa Center ; livelihood improvement in selected villages; upgrading of Lao Cai city center); improving provincial connectivity (including 3 items: Upgrading the route from Trinh Tuong to Y Ty; upgrading Provincial Road 155 from Sa Pa to Ban Xeo; upgrading Provincial Road 152 from Bao Thang's Xuan Giao to Ban Ho of Sa Pa town and upgrading Provincial Road 153 from Bac Ngam to Bac Ha); technical assistance… The project would promote socio-economic development, create favorable conditions to attract investment, and exploit the tourism potential of localities in the province, in the region with the whole country and the world in the context that the Covid-19 pandemic has been under control.

The delegation of ADB Bank at the meeting.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Trong Hai hoped that Mr. Takahiro Yasui, Executive Director in charge of Japan and his associates, ADB Vietnam Office would support the consideration and early launch of the Sustainable Urban and Infrastructure Development Project of Lao Cai province in the funding plan in the near future.

At the meeting, the two parties discussed issues of interest to the ADB mission, such as: Advantages and potentials for tourism development of Lao Cai, difficulties in tourism development by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; the impacts that ADB projects have been investing in in the province, the degree of impact of the projects on the people…

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Takahiro Yasui, Managing Director in charge of Japan, Asian Development Bank highly appreciated the project preparation work of Lao Cai province; the project's components to be in line with ADB's criteria and it is expected that the project would contribute to strengthening Lao Cai's central position in regional connectivity, connecting the ASEAN region with the Southwest region of China. Regarding the proposals made by Lao Cai, Mr. Takahiro Yasui noted and would discuss and agree with the members of the Board of Directors and would reply later.

On the same day, the delegation visited the Road No II of Kim Thanh International Border Gate.

The delegation of ADB Bank visited the Road No II of Kim Thanh International Border Gate

Leaders of Lao Cai province introduced the plan of Kim Thanh II International Border Gate to the delegation.