PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and JCCI Chairman Yoichi Kobayashi 

The PM said Vietnam is refining a number of policies on opening the economy, and has joined new-generation bilateral and multilateral agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership to which Japan is a member. 

The host pledged to direct agencies to deal with issues regarding taxation, customs, retail, distribution and import of secondhand machines as proposed by the Japanese side. 

He asked the JCCI to work closely with Vietnamese agencies to launch an action plan to promote priority industries set in the Vietnam-Japan industrialisation strategy, and well perform the sixth and next stages of the joint initiatives. 

The JCCI was also urged to continue supporting Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises investing in Vietnam, especially in the priority fields of electricity, electronics, agricultural machines, agro-fisheries processing, shipbuilding, environment, and automobile manufacturing. 

Kobayashi, for his part, said the visiting firms want to learn about business opportunities in trade, services, aviation in Vietnam. 

He told the host that during the visit, the Mekong-Japan Business Cooperation Committee suggested a number of ideas to improve business climate in Vietnam as well as asked for clearing difficulties met by Japanese investors. 

The guest described the establishment of Vietnam-Japan University in Hanoi as a step to boost workforce training cooperation with Vietnam, especially in industry.

Japan is currently the largest supplier of official development assistance to Vietnam and the second largest investor in the country with more than 3,000 projects worth 42 billion USD. 

On the day, the PM also received visiting Bulgaria Economic Minister Bojidar Loukarsky, during which he expressed his hope that the two countries will step up economic cooperation, trade and services transactions and investments.

The Vietnamese Government supports Bulgaria businesses’ long-term operation in Vietnam, he noted.

Minister Bojidar Loukarsky told his host that economic ties between Bulgaria and Vietnam is below their potential and that his working visit aimed to address the issue. 

In 2015, trade value between Bulgaria and Vietnam hit 102.5 million USD, expanding 28.2 percent from 2014), and exceeding the 100 million USD/year level for the first time. 

By August, 2016, the value was 96.7 million USD, a 88 percent surge on year.

Prime Minister bids farewell to Mongolian ambassador

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed Mongolian Ambassador Dorj Enkhbat for working to promote the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia during his working term here. 

The PM said goodbye to the ambassador at a reception in Hanoi on October 18 and noted that the diplomat contributed to bringing the two countries’ ties in politics, economics, culture, and people-to-people exchange to new heights.

He said the countries have coordinated soundly at international forums, like the UN, NAM and ARF, and achieved encouraging outcomes in trade with value reaching over 30 million USD.

He proposed Mongolia exporting cattle meat to Vietnam and Vietnam selling coffee, rice and other farm products to Mongolia to increase the trade value.

The PM asked the diplomat to convey his invitation to visit Vietnam to Prime Minister J. Erdenebat.

Ambassador Dorj Enkhbat said he felt honoured to work in Vietnam and was impressed with the host country’s nation-building achievements. 

He pledged to continue doing more for the growing relations between the two countries.

Bulgarian Minister’s visit to boost economic ties

National Assembly Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien expected the Vietnam visit by Bulgarian Economic Minister Bozidar Lucarsky will be followed by deals on goods, services and investments to boost each country’s economic growth and bilateral cooperative ties.

Hien hosted the Bulgarian Minister in Hanoi on October 18, during which he said the talks between the Minister and officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade reflect the determination of the countries’ leaders in cementing and broadening bilateral ties, especially in economic and trade cooperation.

Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is growing but it is still below potential, he said, stating that the Vietnamese National Assembly and Government will provide all possible legal conditions for foreign investors, including those from Bulgaria, to establish long-term businesses in Vietnam.

He stated that Vietnam always respects the sentiments and support provided by the Bulgarian Government and people in the past as well as at present.

Minister Bozidar Lucarsky stated that Vietnam is Bulgaria’s important partner in Asia, while agreeing with his host that the two countries’ economic cooperation potential remains untapped.

He told host that he and officials from the Ministry of Industry and Trade agreed on fields where bilateral partnership will be stepped up and determined fields of the respective countries’ strength.

He asserted that Bulgaria backs the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union and believed that the countries’ growing relations will continue thriving.

VNA