The Ministry of Planning and Investment and a delegation of senior officials from the Japanese prefecture of Saitama signed a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation in Hanoi on August 21.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Governor of Saitama, Kiyoshi Ueda, said that their visit to Vietnam is to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the Japanese locality and Vietnam , as well as overall economic ties between the two countries.

Apart from the car manufacturing industry and mechanical engineering, Saitama is also very strong in food processing, said Ueda.

Several large companies based in the locality, such as Honda and a subsidiary of Canon, have already invested in Vietnam , the Governor noted.

He said that during their visit, several businesses from Saitama stated that they have plans to invest in Vietnam in the near future and that the local authorities always do their best to support Vietnamese businesses wishing to operate there.

Minister for Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh added that relations between Vietnam and Japan have continued to strengthen in recent years.

Japan now takes the lead in providing Vietnam with official development assistance and foreign direct investment, said the minister.

Vinh highlighted the level of mutual trust between the governments and peoples of both countries, which he said serves as a firm foundation for increased long-term and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Japan .

He added that the Vietnamese Government hopes that all the Japanese localities, groups and corporations will continue to invest in the country and to provide it with official development assistance.-VNA