Lieut. Gen. Pham Xuan Hung, Deputy Chief of the Gen. Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, welcomed Major General Yohishide, Head of the Defence Agency, the Bureau of Defence Policy, the Staff Office of the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, in Hanoi on January 10.
Hung reviewed the friendship between Vietnam and Japan as well as the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries’ armies.

The friendship and cooperation between the two defence ministries have enjoyed in-depth development which is reflected through the exchange of delegations at all levels, and cooperation projects between policy research agencies, he said.

For his part, Yohishide informed his host of the outcomes of the first dialogue of Vietnam-Japan infantry staff officers at general level, which he said marked a breakthrough in defence ties between the two countries and opened up new cooperative opportunities for the two ministries to contribute to maintaining stability, peace and development in the region.

Japanese minister vows to boost judicial ties

Japanese Justice Minister Hiraoka Hideo has vowed to do his best to boost Japan-Vietnam relations, especially in building a law-governed state and improving the legal system of Vietnam.

The Japanese minister made the commitment at a reception given by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on Jan. 10.

He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Government and people for their assistance to the Japanese people in overcoming the consequences of last year’s earthquake and tsunami.

Deputy PM Phuc said that Vietnam always considers Japan an important partner, saying that the two governments are always confident in each other.

He said Japan has provided effective assistance to Vietnam in completing its legal system, contributing to the building of a law-governed state and law enforcement.

Phuc expressed his wish for further effective and practical cooperation between the two countries’ judicial sectors.

NA Vice Chairwoman meets Japanese leaders
NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong met leaders of the House of Councillors, the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary League and senior Japanese Government officials in Tokyo on January 10, on the sidelines of the 20th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum meeting.

At her meeting with Vice Chairman of the Japanese House of Councillors Otsuji Hidehisa, Vice Chairwoman Phong said Vietnam will continue to help Japan overcome recent disasters.

She reaffirmed that Vietnam will continue implementing its nuclear power project with Japan’s assistance.

Hidehisa expressed his confidence in his country’s businesses to build the nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan province.

He said he believes relations between the two parliaments will play an important role in promoting the further development of the bilateral strategic partnership.

Many Japanese parliamentarians want to take part in exchange activities with the Vietnamese NA, he said.

At another meeting with President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary League Yukio Hatoyama, the Vietnamese Vice Chairwoman highlighted the role of the league in promoting the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership in various fields.

She underlined the Vietnamese NA’s commitment to increase its role in monitoring the use of official development assistance capital provided by the Japanese Government.
 
She proposed the Japanese parliamentarians group increase its exchange with the Vietnamese legislative body and said she hopes Japanese parliamentarians will play a greater role in increasing loan sources for Vietnam and facilitating Japanese business investment in Vietnam.

Hatoyama thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their assistance to Japan that suffered from the serious consequences of earthquake and tsunami in March last year.

Vietnam is one of Japan’s important partners, he said, saying that Japan will provide further assistance to Vietnam’s infrastructure construction projects and other fields.

While meeting Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi, Vice Chairwoman Phong spoke highly of Japanese cabinet members’ contributions to stepping up the two countries’ relations.

She called on Japan to invest in supporting and hi-tech industries and help Vietnam to adapt to climate change, apart from infrastructure construction.

For his part, the Japanese minister said that Japan will expand cooperation with Vietnam, expressing the belief that Vietnam will become a nation with an important role in the region.

Talking with Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Michihiko Kano, the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman said she hopes that Japan will help Vietnam’s agricultural sector increase its product quality.

Minister Kano expressed hope that Japan and Vietnam will cooperate further in the agriculture sector to cement the strategic partnership.

VNA/VOV