Hanoi ready to help Fukuoka boost investment in Vietnam: official

Officials cut the ribbon to open the Vietnam – Hanoi Festival 2018 in Fukuoka (Photo: kinhtedothi.vn)

Hanoi is ready to help Fukuoka businesses increase their investment in Vietnam, an official of the Vietnamese capital city told leaders of the Japanese prefecture on July 30.

A Hanoi delegation led by Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council Phung Thi Hong Ha visited Fukuoka on July 30 and 31 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties and 10 years of the Hanoi-Fukuoka cooperative relationship.

They met on July 30 with Fukuoka Governor Hiroshi Ogawa, who welcomed the visit, which followed a recent trip to Hanoi by the prefecture’s authorities.

He considered the Vietnam – Hanoi Festival 2018, held in Fukuoka on July 31 and August 1, a contribution to bilateral relations. The governor also said he expected the two sides to regularly hold cultural exchanges and promote cooperation projects in hi-tech agriculture.

At a separate meeting, Chairman of the Fukuoka Council Jungo Inoue said this visit will help strengthen ties between the two localities. 

He asked the Fukuoka Council and Hanoi People’s Council to step up delegation exchanges and meetings to share experience in financial system development, budget management and preservation and promotion of cultural heritage values.

At the events, Vice Chairwoman Ha recognised the considerable progress since Hanoi and Fukuoka inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral friendship and cooperation in 2008.

She also thanked the local administration for supporting her city to prepare for the Vietnam – Hanoi Festival 2018.

She expressed her hope that the two sides will enhance cooperation in the fields stated in the MoU, including maintaining mutual visits, expanding cooperation to the district level, preserving and promoting cultural heritage values and enhancing partnerships in investment-trade-tourism, environment, culture and education.

Ha affirmed that Hanoi is ready to help Fukuoka bolster investment in Vietnam.

On July 31, the Vietnam – Hanoi Festival 2018 opened in the Japanese prefecture, featuring performances of traditional arts, introduction of Vietnamese cuisine and consumer goods, an exhibition on Vietnamese culture and a photo display on Hanoi-Fukuoka relations.

Keidanren plays important role in Vietnam-Japan ties: PM

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (front, third from right) and the Keidanren delegation pose for a photo 

The Japan-Vietnam Economic Committee under the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) has made significant contributions to the thriving bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in terms of the implementation of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 31.

Hosting a reception for two Keidanren Co-Chairs, Kuniharu Nakamura and Hideo Ichikawa, and members of Keidanren delegation in Hanoi, PM Phuc stressed that the bilateral relations are developing in a more practical and effective manner based on the Extensive Strategic Partnership.

Japan is currently Vietnam’s second largest official development assistance (ODA) sponsor and second largest foreign investor, while also ranking third amongst tourism arrivals into the Vietnam, the PM said, expressing his hope that Keidanren will further its efforts to position Japan first in all those fields.

Lauding Japan’s role and coordination with Vietnam towards accelerating the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), PM Phuc noted that Vietnam will adopt the pact by the end of this year, and hopes to accompany Japan in solidifying the deal.

Vietnam always considers the East Asian country as one of its leading partners, and hopes that both sides would bolster cooperation in various sectors for the sake of the two peoples, and for regional and global peace and prosperity, the government leader said.

The Vietnamese Government and people believe that Japanese businesses will preserve their prestige, and pour long-term, sustainable investment in the country. As both nations present huge potential for further collaboration, the Government will create favourable conditions for Japanese companies in the spirit of mutual benefit, he noted.

PM Phuc wished that the Japanese side will continue its support for Vietnam in the nation’s socio-economic development process, especially in the fields most in demand, such as agricultural machinery, oil and gas, automobile engineering, energy, processing and manufacturing, and infrastructure development.

Besides economy and trade collaboration, Vietnam wants to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Japan, he said, adding Vietnam backs Japan’s activities to promote cooperation in the framework of collaboration programmes with the Mekong Sub-region countries.

PM Phuc proposed that the two Keidanren Co-Chairs and members of Keidanren delegation step up their implementation of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative to maintain policy dialogue mechanisms between the Vietnamese Government agencies and Japanese enterprises. He described this an effective channel for Vietnamese authorities to complete regulations and policies to better the business climate.

Expressing his delights over the growing Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership, Kuniharu Nakamura said that high-level visits have consolidated the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

As for Japanese firms, Vietnam is an attractive market due to its large population, stable socio-political environment, as well as its role of a gateway for Japan to tap into the ASEAN market. 

Last year, Vietnam welcomed the largest amount of Japanese investment, with 9.1 billion USD in capital injected by over 1,700 businesses, he said, pledging to enhance investment in Vietnamese infrastructure and human resources.

For the time ahead, Keidanren will extend its granting of scholarships for Vietnamese students, he underlined.

Meanwhile, Hideo Ichikawa said that Keidanren also wants to help Vietnam improve its business climate through the implementation of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative, which is now in its seventh phase.

He said he hopes to receive further support from the Vietnamese authorities in carrying out the initiative.

Laying stress on the significance of infrastructure development in the context of curbing the ceiling ratio of public debt, he suggested the Vietnamese Government choose rational projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, adding that Japanese firms stand ready to join such projects in Vietnam.

The Japan Business Federation is the largest economic organisation in Japan with 1,340 companies, 109 industrial associations, and 49 regional economic organisations. 

Vietnam, Malaysia enjoy thriving relations

Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Vietnam-Malaysia relations have been consolidated and developed across the fields of politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy, and cultural exchange over the past 45 years, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Le Quy Quynh.

In his writing to look back on 45 years of the bilateral diplomatic relations, Quynh stressed that the relations between the two countries become more special after both sides lifted the relations to strategic partnership in 2015.

Regarding politics, regular exchanges at all levels have been promoted while cooperative mechanisms prioritised and maintained through generations of leaders.

Malaysia’s new government and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad attach much importance to the relations with Vietnam, and the Malaysian Government leader will pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) in September, the diplomat said.

Both countries have seen robust signs in trade and investment relations as well as found huge potential for further cooperation. Malaysia is currently the 8th largest trade partner of Vietnam, and Vietnam is the 12th largest trade partner of Malaysia. 

Two-way trade in 2017 topped 10 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 19.06 percent, of which Vietnam exported 4.2 billion USD worth of products to Malaysia and imported goods worth over 5.8 billion USD from Malaysian. Both sides are striving to increase trade value to 15 billion USD by 2020 under the Vietnam-Malaysia Action Plan in 2017-2019.

Malaysia ranks 7th out of 125 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. By the end of December 2017, Malaysia had 568 projects with a total registered capital of 12.18 billion USD in Vietnam.

The two countries have been interested in bolstering collaboration in security and defence. Particularly, 2018 marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation. 

They continue enhancing information exchange, working to prevent piracy, as well as promoting search and rescue efforts, and assisting Vietnamese vessels in distress.

Also, fruitful cooperation has been recorded in labour, education and tourism, with the effective implementation of the labour cooperation deal inked in 2015, and various student exchange events. 

There are more and more tourists travelling between the two nations. Malaysia has been in the top 10 Asian tourism markets of Vietnam, with some 400,000 arrivals in 2017, accounting for 3.48 percent of total foreigners spending holidays in the country in the year.

In the multilateral aspect, both nations have built confidence and strong bonds as they are active members of such organisations as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), the United Nations (UN), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

They share a common viewpoint on various issues, such as the ASEAN’s central role in the regional security structure, the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as the early finalisation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Ambassdor Quynh reaffirmed that the bilateral ties have always been nurtured by generations of leaders of both sides, bringing benefits to the two peoples for the sake of regional and global peace and stability.

Keidanren commended for fostering Vietnam-Japan investment ties

President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 31 for a delegation from the Japan-Vietnam Economic Committee under the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren).

President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 31 for a delegation from the Japan-Vietnam Economic Committee under the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), the largest economic organisation in Japan with 1,340 companies, 109 industrial associations, and 49 regional economic organisations.

President Quang thanked Keidanren for its active and effective cooperation with Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment to organise a meeting between the President and heads of some large economic groups of Japan on the occasion of his visit to Japan in May.

The President said that after his successful visit to Japan, many Japanese investors came to Vietnam to seek cooperation, investment, and business opportunities, while the number of visitors between the two countries has been on the rise, reflecting the growth in cooperation between the two sides.

He appreciated Keidanren’s support and company with Vietnam during the country’s efforts to improve its investment environment, as well as the organisation’s activities to connect Japanese and Vietnamese firms, thus promoting strategic partnership between the two countries.

President Quang held that the sharing of many common strategic interests between the two countries, along with the prompt implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam defines Japan as its leading and long-term partner, and is keen on working with Japan to further bolster the partnership.

The State leader asserted that the growth of the Vietnamese economy will bring about many opportunities for Japanese firms, pledging that Vietnam will give optimal conditions for them to do business in the local market.

He asked Keidanren to continue coordinating with the Vietnamese side to lure more Japanese investment in Vietnam’s prioritised sectors – namely high-tech agriculture, agro-fisheries processing, electronics, agricultural machineries, environmental protection, power saving, oil and gas, and automobile and spare part production.

He lauded the role of the two Co-Chairs of the Japan-Vietnam Economic Committee, Kuniharu Nakamura and Hideo Ichikawa, in promoting the collaboration between the two countries, especially in the implementation of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative.

The President stressed that the initiative has helped maintain political policy dialogues between Vietnamese Governmental agencies and Japanese businesses, which he described as an effective channel for Vietnamese authorities to obtain information during the process of completing the legal and policy system in order to better the domestic investment environment.

Kuniharu Nakamura said that the building of the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan has help to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

He said that Japanese firms see Vietnam as an attractive market with high economic growth, a large population, and political stablity. Vietnam is also a gateway to other ASEAN countries, he noted, adding that the Southeast Asian country has made bigger contributions to the global value chain.

He noted that bilateral investment ties have expanded extensively, with Japanese investments to Vietnam reaching over 9 billion USD in 2017.

Kuniharu Nakamura affirmed that Keidanren wants to work with Vietnam in improving the country’s competitiveness through supporting human resource training and granting more scholarships to local students.

Meanwhile, Hideo Ichikawa noted that the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative has contributed to attracting more investment in Vietnam, underlining that Japanese firms hope to continue engaging in high-quality infrastructure projects in Vietnam under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

He committed that Keidanren will continue coordinating closely with Vietnam in realising the initiative.

Vietnam, Israel share experience in cyber security

The Israeli Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA) co-organised a symposium in Hanoi on July 31 to share experience in cyber security, attracting 11 leading firms in the field from Israel.

Yaniv Tessel, Trade Counsellor and Head of Economic and Trade Mission at the Israeli Embassy, said Vietnam as well as other nations in the region and the world are facing threats of cyber security and potential risks of data leakage and loss.

These threats are at the international level, causing great concern to organisations, State management agencies, enterprises and individuals operating in the socio-economic fields, he said.

Thereby, even large or small organisations and agencies must have their own cyber security strategies to deal with such threats and adopt high technology solutions to go ahead of hackers in the network environment, he added.

According to Tessel, Israel has built a unique cyber security ecosystem thanks to the government’s strong support to connect with enterprises.

As a result, Israel has become a leading nation in cyber security, making up some 20 percent of the total global investment in this field.

Sharing the cyber information security in Vietnam, Vu Quoc Khanh, a member of the VNISA Executive Board, said global experts listed Vietnam among the 10 nations controlled by “ghost” computers.  

Cyber security attacks in the country are likely to increase while the stealing of information by fake websites has become more popular, he said. 

More than 50 percent of Vietnamese organisations and agencies have failed to promptly detect cyber security attacks, Khanh stressed.

According to him, the most common types of network attacks in Vietnam are the use of malicious codes to attack State agencies and personal accounts.

At present, millions of computers in Vietnam are infected with malicious codes, he said, adding that every month, there are more than 82 million threats to internet users in Vietnam.

He pointed to shortcomings such as ineffective organisation of activities to ensure information security and poor investment.

Khanh suggested inspecting the network system to soon detect cyber security attacks and apply the state-of-the-art technologies.

Participants recommended promoting new technologies in the digital age such as cloud computing, virtualization, artificial intelligence, biometric identification and internet of things.

Israeli businesses took this occasion to connect with Vietnamese firms to boost the bilateral trade and economic partnership.