Vietnam and Japan should pioneer in speeding up the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as the two nations have a strategic partnership, traditional friendship and time-honoured trade, economic and investment ties, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Japanese Minister of Economic Revitalisation Toshimitsu Motegi 

While receiving Japanese Minister of Economic Revitalisation Toshimitsu Motegi in Hanoi on December 26, PM Phuc spoke highly of the minister’s visit, saying that it contributes actively to boosting trade exchanges between Vietnam and Japan as well as among Asia-Pacific economies.

Having expressed his delight at the comprehensive and practical development of the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership, PM Phuc hailed the positive outcomes of an earlier working session between Minister Motegi and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh.

The two ministers discussed measures to effectively address issues hindering bilateral cooperation, and reached consensus on key issues related to the CPTPP, thus promoting the trade exchanges among stakeholders, particularly bilateral cooperative ties between Vietnam and Japan.

For his part, Motegi congratulated the Government and people of Vietnam on the successful hosting of the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week, saying that the event enhanced the role and position of Vietnam on the international arena.

He emphasized the role of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Minister Tran Tuan Anh as well as related agencies of Vietnam in the negating process in meetings within the framework of the APEC 2017 Economic Leaders’ Week, thus helping to form the CPTPP.

The minister expressed his hope that Vietnam-Japan cooperative ties will continue reaping more new fruits in the future.

Empowered by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese minister is visiting Vietnam to discuss bilateral cooperation issues as well as matters related to the CPTPP so that the deal could be signed soon, opening up new cooperation opportunities for its members.-VNA