Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has affirmed Japan’s strong backing for Vietnam’s socio-economic development and its commitment on support for projects in the southeast Asian nation.
During his talks with Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, in Tokyo on Oct. 31, PM Noda expressed the Japanese Government’s commitment to considering assistance to the Long Thanh International Airport project and other prioritised works such as highway projects (Ninh Binh-Bai Vot section and Nha Trang-Phan Thiet section) and metro line projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as continued provision of official development assistance (ODA) to the poverty reduction credit programme.

For his part, PM Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always considers Japan as a leading economic partner and pledged to create favourable conditions for Japanese investors.

He spoke highly of Japan’s cooperation to build and implement an industrialisation strategy and an action plan by 2020 for Vietnam and affirmed his intention to set up a high-level cooperative committee in this field.

PM Dung expressed his wish that the Japanese Government make a study of two potential industrial zones for engineering and electronics in Hai Phong city and Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. He asked the Japanese Government to support and encourage Japanese firms to participate in projects in Vietnam under the form of public-private partnerships (PPP).

At the talks, the two PMs exchanged views and agreed on orientations and specific measures to deepen the Vietnam-Japan strategic cooperative partnership.

They affirmed the importance of maintaining high-level contacts between the two countries and dialogue channels at all levels, particularly increasing the effectiveness of the Vietnam-Japan cooperative committee mechanism, to efficiently implement the two countries’ strategic partnership.

The two sides agreed to name 2013, the year of the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, as the “Year of Vietnam-Japan and Friendship”.

The two PMs also agreed to double current two-way trade by 2020. They discussed and agreed to boost cooperation in culture, education, science and technology, people-to-people exchange, particularly among youths, and human resource development. They also agreed to increase cooperation in international and regional issues of common concern.

PM Dung expressed his sympathy and solidarity with the Japanese people over the heavy loss of lives and property caused by the March earthquake and tsunami. He thanked the Japanese Government and people for their continued provision of ODA to Vietnam, despite undergoing a national recovery after the disasters.

PM Noda also expressed his gratitude for the sympathy and assistance of the Vietnamese Government and people.

The two PMs agreed that these feelings are evidence of the friendship built over the past years by the two governments and peoples.

PM Dung invited PM Noda to visit to Vietnam in 2012 and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

After the talks, the two PMs signed the joint statement on the implementation of action within the framework of the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia between Vietnam and Japan, an agreement on Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant construction cooperation project, a cooperative agreement on rare earth mineral exploitation and development in Vietnam, and a memorandum of understanding on Japan’s mechanism for receiving Vietnam’s nurses.

They witnessed a signing ceremony on the exchange of a diplomatic note regarding the first batch of the Japanese Government’s ODA provision to Vietnam for the 2011 fiscal year.

Earlier, PM Dung separately met with representatives of major Japanese firms such as Mitsubishi, Itochu, Sojitz, Hitachi and Mitsui, as well as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Prime Minister meets with Japanese officials

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received a number of Japanese officials and met with local businesses in Tokyo on October 31, the second day of his four-day official visit to Japan.

At a reception for President of the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) Kazuo Shii, PM Dung extended his sympathy to the Japanese people over serious losses caused by the March earthquake and tsunami, expressing his belief that they will soon overcome their current difficulties to continue building a prosperous country.

He stressed that one of the top priorities in Vietnam ’s foreign policy is to continue strengthening and consolidating its strategic partnership with Japan .

PM Dung said he is pleased with positive developments in the relations between the CPJ and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) over the past time, adding that exchange activities such as the fourth theoretical discussion in Hanoi in late October contribute greatly to deepening the cooperation between the two parties.

For his part, Kazuo Shii congratulated Vietnam on achievements it has made during 25 years of renewal and affirmed the CPJ’s support for fostering the cooperation between the two countries.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Government leader received Japanese Minister of Economics, Trade and Industry (METI) Yukio Edano.

PM Dung spoke highly of active cooperation of the METI an and the Minister himself so that the two sides can sign important cooperative documents during this visit.

As the two countries still have a great potential for cooperation, Dung suggested the METI work closely with Vietnam’s relevant ministries and agencies to further boost bilateral ties, especially in economics, trade and investment.

Minister Edano affirmed that his ministry will closely coordinate with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies in implementing agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders, particularly in rare-earth exploration, exploration and processing, and the compilation of the feasibility study for the Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power project.

He said that the Japanese side will join hands with Vietnamese partners to develop specilised industrial zones in the northern city of Hai Phong and the southern province of Vung Tau with priority given to mechanical engineering and electronics.

Meeting with representatives from the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ League (JVFPL) under the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Prime Minister Dung said the league’s effective and practical activities have helped strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The PM expressed his wish that Japan will continue to provide support for Vietnam , especially in infrastructure, support industry and human resource training projects.

The JVFPL representative welcomed PM Dung’s visit and affirmed the league will work for stronger cooperation with Vietnam .

In a dialogue the same day with Japanese businesses, the Vietnamese PM appreciated the Japan Federation of Economic Organisations (Keidanren)’s efforts in promoting the economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese government is paying attention to training human resources and improving infrastructure and business environment in order to ensure that Vietnam is a safe and attractive destination for international investors, including those from Japan .

Vietnam always encourages Japanese businesses to increase investment in the country for the common development of the two nations, he stressed.

By the end of October 2011, Japan had more than 1,600 valid FDI projects with a total registered investment of 22.3 billion USD, ranking fourth among 92 countries and territories investing in Vietnam .

Many large Japanese groups have been present in Vietnam with prestigious, competitive and hi-tech products, including Sumitomo, Toyota , Mitsubishi, Hitachi and Toshiba.

VNA