The World Bank (WB) wants to further its help for Vietnam in public transport development and drainage planning by 2030 with a vision towards 2050, said Ousmane Dione, WB Country Director in Vietnam.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

He told Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung during their meeting on March 12 that the bank has mobilised 550,000 USD to provide technical support for Hanoi, helping the city assess the efficiency of its public transport system.

A WB group will have a working session with representatives of Hanoi on this issue in the time to come, he said.

He stressed that environmental management is significant to Hanoi’s socio-economic development as the capital city has to face environmental pollution, especially air and water pollution as a result of its fast development.

Highlighting the WB’s support for Hanoi in air quality management, he said that the bank will assist the city in upgrading rivers, lakes and canals, devising anti-flooding schemes and improving the drainage system.

In reply, Chung said in 2017, Hanoi upgraded and dredged 83 out of 124 lakes in the city, and partnered with German companies in handling water pollution.

He called for the WB’s financial support in treating waste water treatment in major rivers in the locality.

VNF/VNA