VNHNO - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Pham Binh Minh, and Japanese FM, Taro Kono, agreed on the need to maintain high-level visits and strengthen cooperation across all spheres, while co-chairing the 10th meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee in Hanoi on September 13.
The officials expressed their delight at the strong, comprehensive and substantive development of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership since the committee’s ninth session in 2017, affirming the implementation of the seventh phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative aiming to facilitate Japan’s investment in Vietnam.
They pledged close coordination in order to promptly bring the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) into force, while agreeing to promote bilateral cooperation in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP).
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (right) and Japanese FM Taro Kono. Photo: VGP
The two sides discussed the cooperation directions in the area of official development assistance (ODA), as well as measures to accelerate the progress of ODA projects and other investment projects deployed by Japan in Vietnam, on the basis of ensuring efficiency and compliance with the law of each country.
They also exchanged ideas on measures to support the development of Vietnam’s supporting industries and automotive industry, and to facilitate trade and agricultural cooperation, aiming to facilitate the penetration of agricultural products into each other’s market.
At the meeting, Deputy PM Minh extended his regards and sympathies over the losses suffered by the Japanese people after the recent earthquake in Hokkaido.
He highly appreciated the Japanese government’s provision of ODA loans to Vietnam over the past few years, asking Japan to support Vietnam in building an e-government, reforming public administration, and building standards for a smart city.
For his part, Japanese FM Taro Kono affirmed that Vietnam’s sustainable development would contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
Japan supports and will assist Vietnam’s sustainable development efforts via improving the business climate, enhancing competitiveness of industries, increasing labour productivity, developing high-quality infrastructure, and training human resources, he said, pledging continued ODA provisions for high-quality infrastructure development in Vietnam, as well as cooperation in public administrative reform and climate change adaptation.
The two sides also agreed to continue working together in organising activities to mark 45 years of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties in 2018, thereby boosting tourism cooperation, cultural exchanges, and exchanges between the people and localities of the two countries./.
