Việt Nam’s BRG Group and Japan’s Sumitomo on Saturday officially announced the implementation of the North Hanoi Smart City project in Đông Anh District, which symbolises the friendship between the two countries marked by the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.

Speaking at the event, Honda Yukihoto, managing executive officer of Sumitomo Corporation, said: “The North Hanoi Smart City is positioned as a very important project to Sumitomo and our strategic partner BRG Group. We hope that a world-class urban centre will be realised to lead the way for a new era of the ASEAN region.”

Emphasising the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Việt Nam and Japan in 2023, the joint venture pledged to quickly realise the dream of a city where a residential community lives harmoniously in a modern, green space full of amenities powered by the latest technologies. “The city will be the place where residents and enterprises can together create values not only for themselves but also for the entire economy and will become the symbol of Việt Nam – Japan friendship in the year marking the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries,” he said.

Nguyễn Thị Nga, chairwoman of BRG Group cum deputy chairwoman of North Hanoi Smart City Development Investment Joint Stock Company – the joint venture between BRG and Sumitomo, said: “As a businesswoman of the capital city, I always nurture a desire that the citizens of the capital city can enjoy the best and most quintessential things in the world right in this homeland of thousands of years of civilisation.”

“This will be a long journey, which might take years for completion, but what’s important is that we have a vision for a modern and classy smart city which pursues green growth where the people thrive together generation by generation,” she said.

“What we need is enthusiasm, effort and determination to complete every milestone on that journey together.”

The official implementation of North Hanoi Smart City also opened a new phase in the development of smart cities in Việt Nam following the Politburo’s Resolution No 52-NQ/TW dated September 27, 2019 and Resolution No 06-NQ/TW dated January 1, 2022, of which the overall goals are to accelerate the urbanisation speed and quality, promote sustainable urban network development, and form several smart urban areas or chains connecting with the region and the world.