On the afternoon of April 8, a working delegation from the Embassy of Japan, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Vietnam, led by Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam, worked with the province on emergency support and recovery activities after storm No. 3.

Also attending were Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep; Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam; Ms. Kendra Rinas, Head of IOM Delegation in Vietnam.

Receiving and working with the delegation were comrade Hoang Van Thach, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of the departments: Agriculture and Environment, Education and Training, Health, Foreign Affairs, Office of the Provincial People's Committee, and Provincial Red Cross.

Expressing his joy at welcoming the delegation, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Van Thach thanked the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam and the delegation for their positive contributions to the good relationship between Japan and Vietnam in general and Cao Bang province in particular. He hoped that the Ambassador and the staff of the Japanese Embassy would continue to pay attention to and support the province, acting as a bridge to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides; at the same time, supporting the province to expand cooperation with Japanese localities, agencies, organizations and enterprises in the fields of investment, trade, agriculture, vocational education and labor, research, survey, investment cooperation and aid implementation in Cao Bang..., contributing to promoting the local socio-economic development and contributing to the achievements of the Vietnam - Japan strategic cooperative partnership.

In 2024, storm No. 3 caused widespread heavy rain, causing severe damage to people and property as well as damage to public works in the districts of Nguyen Binh, Bao Lac, Bao Lam, Ha Quang, Hoa An, Trung Khanh, Thach An and the City; the total estimated damage was about 1,123 billion VND.

In recent times, Cao Bang province has received attention and support from the Embassy of Japan, UNICEF, IOM and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment through projects and programs to overcome the consequences of natural disasters. Through UNICEF, the Japanese Government has approved the project "Supporting Cao Bang province to overcome the consequences of storm No. 3 - Yagi for children and women" with an aid budget of more than 1.2 million USD (about 31 billion VND).

The IOM emergency relief project promptly donated 1,100 boxes of household goods to the districts of Nguyen Binh, Ha Quang, Hoa An, Bao Lam, with a total value of 1.7 billion VND; donated equipment to the community emergency response team; supported the construction of a community shelter in Ban Choi village, Dinh Phung commune (Bao Lac), with an estimated value of about 1.55 billion VND, expected to be completed by the end of May 2025. Support for vulnerable groups with 44% being women, 15 households with disabled people, 1,096 households of ethnic minorities...

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam ITO Naoki thanked the warm welcome that the provincial leaders and leaders of departments and branches of Cao Bang province gave to the delegation. The Ambassador shared the difficulties and damages of the province due to the impact of storm No. 3; hoped that Japan's support for Vietnam in general and Cao Bang province in particular would contribute to helping people stabilize their lives. Japan will continue to cooperate in developing medium and long-term infrastructure to help people be ready to respond to natural disasters.

Providing more information about the disaster prevention project that Japan is implementing in 11 northern provinces, including Cao Bang, the Ambassador hopes that the province will continue to coordinate to effectively implement the project. Agreeing with the wishes and proposals of Cao Bang province on strengthening cooperation with localities and partners of Japan. At the same time, in his position and duties, he will continue to make efforts to contribute to deepening the cooperative relationship between Japan - Vietnam, Japan - Cao Bang; sharing information, connecting localities and partners of Japan to research, learn and implement cooperative activities with Cao Bang as well as connecting and strengthening people-to-people diplomacy activities between the two sides.

On behalf of the provincial leaders, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Hoang Van Thach thanked the organizations that have supported Cao Bang province in the past and the coming time. Cao Bang has been moving people out of dangerous areas due to natural disasters, committed to directing agencies, units, and localities to proactively coordinate with sponsors and related agencies and units to deploy and implement activities to ensure transparency, correct norms, objects, and regulations, and to accompany and create the best conditions for the working group to implement support projects in the province.

GHOST