(VOVworld) – The Hanoi-Thai Nguyen national highway opened to traffic on Saturday. In his address, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed the importance of the highway in ensuring rapid and sustainable development in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Thai Nguyen, and other northern provinces. He said: “I ask leaders of Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Thai Nguyen provinces to complete plans for urban development, industrial development and residential arrangements in the future. This will help to develop production and stabilize people’s lives.”

Prime Minister Dung thanked the Japanese government for supporting Vietnam in economic development and poverty reduction. This 500 million USD project, sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is located in Vietnam’s key northern economic hub. The 64 km road runs through Hanoi, Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen provinces.