The Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee recently met with the Austrian Ambassador to Viet Nam, Mr Georg Heindl, during his official visit at the completion of his term of office in Viet Nam. Chairman Chien expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ambassador, and recognised the great contribution made by him, as well as the Austrian Embassy, in assisting Da Nang over recent years. Most notable was the support given to the city for construction of the third cable car system running to the peak of Ba Na Mountain.

Da Nang continues to speed up the publicity and promotion of its tourism sector regardless of the slow global economic recovery and the fact that tourists are tending to tighten their purse strings in 2013. In addition to organising programmes to publicise the city’s tourism potential in certain international markets, Da Nang is continuing to encourage the opening of new international air routes, both charter and scheduled, into the city.

On 16 April, a three-day exhibition entitled “Fascinating Science on the Move” opened at the University of Da Nang. The event was organised by Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon). The exhibition was one of the Australian government’s key activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Australia and Viet Nam (26 February 1974 – 26 February 2013).

The Japanese city of Yokohama will offer technical advice to promote the development of Da Nang into an eco-city. The two sides will encourage the participation of the private sector and academic organisations which have expertise and knowledge on environmentally friendly urban development in order to achieve the above mentioned objectives. In addition, the two cities will call for the support of both central governments and international organisations in pursuing appropriate assistance to implement this technical cooperation.

A ceremony to repatriate the remains believed to be of an American serviceman who died during the Viet Nam War was held at Da Nang International Airport on 14 April. Representatives of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Personnel (VNOSMP) and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) attended the ceremony.

Mr Van Huu Chien, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Communist Party Committee cum Chairman of the People’s Committee, along with representatives of the People’s Council and other associations and unions of the city, recently visited the Consulate General of Laos PDR in Da Nang to deliver greetings on the occasion of the Bunpimay New Year Festival of Laos.

Da Nang wants to boost cooperation with Japan, most notably in hi-tech and sea port activities, and to promote the establishment of a direct air route connecting the city with Japan’s Haneda. This was stated by Mr Van Huu Chien, the Chairman of Da Nang People’s Committee, at a recent meeting with a delegation from Japan’s Yokohama, led by its Vice Mayor, Mr Suzuki Takashi.

On 6 April, The USA’s Rocky Lai & Associates Inc began construction of a 278 million USD IT Park on a 341 hectare site in Hoa Lien Commune, Hoa Vang District. The project will be implemented over the next 10 years.

Da Nang’s People’s Committee has given their approval for the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam to organise the Questacon exhibition and scientific workshop at the University of Da Nang (UD) (41 Le Duan Street) from 16 to 18 April.

Mr Tran Tho, the Standing Deputy Secretary in charge of the Da Nang Municipal Communist Party Committee, was elected as the new chairman of Da Nang People’s Council for the 2011 - 2016 term at the 6th extraordinary session of the city's People’s Council on 1 April.