A ground breaking ceremony was held on Saturday for Vietnam-Japan University at Viet Nam National University – Ha Noi in Hoa Lac High-Tech Park, to the west of Ha Noi.

President Truong Tan Sang, Special Advisor to the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Takebe Tsutomu, and Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Fukada Hiroshi attended the ceremony.

The Vietnam-Japan University, whose concept comes from ideas and hopes of high-ranking leaders from Viet Nam and Japan, will offer courses in Japanese, English and Vietnamese, targeting to run a model that features the close connection between training and research, businesses and university, and public-private ties.

It will receive support and direct participation from Japanese scientists, experts, and businesspeople in Viet Nam.

The cost to start the university has been estimated at US$365 million, including $200 million from the Japanese government's official development assistance (ODA), $100 million to be financed by Japanese enterprises and organisations, and $65 million contributed by Viet Nam.

The university plans to begin enrolling students for masters degree programmes in 2016, while construction is expected to be completed by 2020.

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said the university is a symbol of the friendship between Viet Nam and Japan.

He further held out hope that Ha Noi authorities and other Vietnamese and Japanese agencies would closely work together to ensure the project progresses as scheduled and with a high quality of workmanship.

VNS/VNN