HANOI — The groundbreaking ceremony for Vietnam's first space center was held at Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park in Hanoi on Wednesday.

With Japanese aid covering ¥46.6 billion of the cost, estimated at ¥54.4 billion, the 9-hectare site will eventually host facilities where Vietnam will try to produce its own satellites by 2020.

The space center will comprise a satellite operation and data management facility, a research and development building, a library and a space museum.

It will promote the transfer of Japanese technologies to make high-resolution climate observation satellites while training some 350 scientists and specialists.

Considered one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, Vietnam plans to compile its own data so it can craft disaster prevention policies based on scientific evidence.