With similarities in culture and history, Phu Tho province and Nara prefecture, the two ancient capitals of Vietnam and Japan respectively, have many opportunities for comprehensive bilateral cooperation in various realms.

Chairman of the Phu Tho provincial People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh made the remarks at a ceremony on August 26 to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

The event comes on the occasion of the working visit to the northern province of Phu Tho by a delegation from Japan’s Nara prefecture.

According the Chairman, areas of cooperation include investment, trade, education, culture, science and agriculture, and the exchange of the two localities’ young people.

The official took the occasion to inform his guest about Phu Tho’s favourable geographical conditions, rich cultural treasures and diverse mineral resources and abundant labour force.

With such advantages, the province has a lot of strength for industrial development, especially textiles, paper, electronics, construction materials and chemicals.

The province’s GDP growth averages 10.3 percent annually, he said, noting that the figure is projected to climb to 12-13 percent.

Blessed with many beautiful landscapes, plus Xoan singing, which has been recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Protection, Phu Tho is favourable for tourism development, he added.

Nara Governor Shogo Arai said during his stay in Phu Tho, the two localities reached consensus on cooperation orientations, spanning such areas as human resources development, economics, culture and tourism.

He pledged that Nara will make greater efforts to realise the common goals.

Earlier, the Japanese delegation had a working session with provincial authorities and visited Hung Vuong University, Viet Tri University of Industry and the Hung Kings relic site.-VNA