Recent global and regional developments warrant Viet Nam forging closer military ties with Japan, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo yesterday.

Workers at a US$7.2 million hi-tech agriculture park in HCM City. Viet Nam is in the process of modernising its agriculture sector. Japanse PM Shinzo Abe has welcomed agriculture co-operation deals between Japan and Viet Nam.

Praising the current comprehensive partnership that has developed between both countries, Phuc said it needs to be fostered and strengthened towards maintaining peace and stability.

Phuc also expressed his wish for Japan to step up agriculture and judicial co-operation with Viet Nam. He asked Japan to help Viet Nam train qualified lawyers and enable them to capably represent the Vietnamese Government in international disputes.

The Japanese PM responded that his country would continue to support Viet Nam and expand its co-operation in trade, agriculture and supporting industries.

Abe said he also wished to foster exchanges between the two countries through simpler visa procedures and by receiving more Vietnamese nurses and trainees to work in Japan.

He looks forward to Japanese technology being applied in the aviation and nuclear power industries in Viet Nam, Abe said. Japan is also working relevant countries to implement its co-operation plan with Viet Nam in space technology, he added.

Later the same day, in a meeting with Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida, the Deputy PM welcomed Japan loosening its visa requirements for Vietnamese citizens.

Kishida expressed Japan's high appreciation of the determination with which bilateral relations with Viet Nam were being strengthened. He said Japan would further co-operate with Viet Nam in ensuring effective use of official development assistance.

Deputy Prime Minister Phuc also joined a working session with the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and witnessed the signing ceremony of a letter of intent on co-operation between Viet Nam's Ministry of Justice and JICA to provide support for legal and judicial reforms.

Deputy PM Phuc, the same day, toured the Tsukuba Space Centre in Ibaraki prefecture where he witnessed the signing of a joint statement on bolstering affiliation between the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Under the statement, the two sides will work hand-in-hand in specifying their future co-operation potential related to remote sensing satellite, the application and development of small satellites and personnel training.

Meeting HCMC leader

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday met with the Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai in Tokyo.

During his meeting with Hai, Abe also welcomed a series of agriculture co-operation deals reached during the visit to Japan by President Truong Tan Sang early this year.

He noted his appreciation for Viet Nam, saying it was one of the countries chosen for his overseas trips soon after assuming office in late 2012.

The Japanese PM also concurred with his guest about need for peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law to ensure maritime security.

Hai told Abe that his visit aimed to access Japanese know-how in hi-tech industries, agriculture and biotechnology; invite investment to develop the support industry in Viet Nam; and co-operate in personnel training for all the above sectors.

Hai said he had the pleasure of informing his host that the delegation had witnessed the signing of eight memoranda of understanding between HCM City firms and Japanese partners.

During a courtesy call on Koichi Yajima, Vice President of Japan Bank for International Co-operation, the same day, Hai suggested JBIC can extend the support it is providing for infrastructure development in Viet Nam to economic restructuring and environmental protection.

Later, meeting with Minister of Environment Mochizuki Yoshio, the HCM City Party Secretary also sought further Japanese assistance in climate change response and adaptation as well as the city's efforts to generate power from waste incineration.

He proposed to Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Yasuhisa Shiozaki that construction of the Viet Nam-Japan friendship hospital be speeded up. He also requested Japan to transfer medical technology and share with Viet Nam its expertise in healthcare policy, labour and welfare policies.

Earlier, the Vietnamese delegation attended a seminar co-hosted by the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) and the HCM City Centre for Trade and Investment Promotion. Japanese enterprises that are members of the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Committee took part in the seminar. After an overview of the city's economic and investment climate was presented by Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Le Thanh Liem, Hai pledged that HCM City would offer all possible help to investors, especially those active in the development of infrastructure, support industries, hi-tech industries, human resources and environmental protection.

During the visit, senior representatives of major Japanese firms like ANA, Sojitsu, Marubeni and Hitachi expressed strong interest in business opportunities offered by HCM City.

Hai ended his five-day visit yesterday.

VNS/VNN