Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh met with Chuichi Date, Speaker of the House of Councillors of the Japanese National Diet, in Tokyo on June 12 as part of his visit to Japan to attend the 24th International Conference on the Future of Asia. 

At the meeting, the official suggested the House of Councillors continue the exchange of all-level delegations and expand pragmatic cooperation with the Vietnamese legislature, while sharing experience in building and perfecting the legal system, and judicial reform. 

Binh urged the agency to support stronger economic-trade ties between Vietnam and Japan, and the Japanese Government’s continued official development assistance (ODA) provision for Vietnam, especially for projects on high-quality personnel training, key infrastructure development and climate change response. 

The official called for enhanced coordination between the two countries’ legislative bodies at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums. 

For his part, Chuichi Date lauded achievements Vietnam has recorded in socio-economic development and external affairs over the past time. 

Noting with pleasure progresses made in the bilateral legislative ties, the host emphasised the importance he has attached to enhancing cooperation with Vietnam across fields. 

He also showed his support for the Japanese Government to continue cooperation with and assistance to Vietnam in socio-economic development. 

Chuichi Date said he hopes that the two sides will beef up cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange in 2018 when Vietnam and Japan marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and on the occasion of Japan’s hosting of 2020 Summer Olympics. 

The same day, Binh had a meeting with Japanese Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa, during which the Vietnamese official highly valued the effective cooperation of the Government and the Justice Ministry of Japan in developing the legal system and personnel training. 

He asked the ministry to reinforce affiliation with the Vietnamese side in judicial assistance in civil, criminal and commercial affairs. 

The official proposed the early negotiation and signing of an agreement on civil judicial assistance, experience exchange and technical support between the two sides. He also urged the Japanese ministry to help improve capacity for Vietnamese officials in joining and implementing conventions of The Hague Conference. 

In reply, Minister Yoko Kamikawa expressed her delight at the development of cooperation between the two countries in general and the two justice ministries in particular. 

She called on the two ministries to soon sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. 

Yoko Kamikawa said her ministry is ready to closely coordinate with Vietnam at international legal forums and conferences to which Japan is a member, including The Hague Convention. 

She called for Vietnam’s coordination at the 14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice slated for 2020 in Tokyo, saying Japan is willing to help Vietnam perfect its legal system and train personnel in the sector. 

Meeting with leaders of AEON and Willer Groups, Deputy PM Binh affirmed that the Vietnamese Government has actively improved the domestic investment environment and created favourable conditions for Japanese investors in the country. 

He urged the two groups to expand their investment in Vietnam and intensify their cooperation in retail, goods distribution and export, and public transportation, helping improve local people’s living standards. 

Leaders of the two groups promised to continue their long-term operation in Vietnam. 

During his stay in Japan, Binh also held talks with Indonesia’s Vice-President Jusuf Kalla, during which the two sides agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in economy and trade, striving to soon reach the target of raising two-way trade to 10 billion USD. 

They consented to sign deals on cooperation in trade, agriculture-fishery, national defence, security and crime combat, and soon build a close and effective coordination mechanism in protecting fishermen and fishing boats, and fighting crimes at sea.

The two officials discussed measures to maintain peace, stability and security in the region, intensify the solidarity, unity and central role of ASEAN in strategic matters, including the East Sea issue

VNA