VietNamNet Bridge - Japan’s Foreign Minister Kishida Fumio will pay a visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 2 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart - Mr. Pham Binh Minh.

During the visit, he will co-chair the sixth meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee to further promote extensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

Vietnam-Japan relations have grown steadily since the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee last year. The countries elevated their ties to a new level of extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia during President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Japan in March 2014.            

Japan is currently Vietnam’s leading important partner and the first G7 which recognised Vietnam’s market economy status in October 2011. The country is also Vietnam's largest ODA provider,  leading investor and the fourth trade partner.

Two-way trade turnover reached more than $24 billion in 2013 and nearly US$10.7 billion in the January-May period this year, of which Vietnam’s exports to Japan hit nearly $6 billion, up 12.6% fromthe same period last year.

Last year Japan ranked first among 54 nations and territories investing in Vietnam with total newly registered and increased capital of roughly $5.8 billion.

By May 25 this year, Japan invested nearly $35.6 billion into 2,288 projects on science, technology, labour, tourism, culture, information, education and training in Vietnam.

PV