Vietnam pledges to undertake maximum efforts together with Japan to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership for the benefit of the two peoples, as well as peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and beyond, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told former Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama at a reception in Hanoi on October 29.

The Vietnamese Government leader welcomed the guest on his visit to Vietnam to attend the 2014 Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) ICT Summit, which is taking place in Hanoi and Da Nang city under the theme “ICT - the new paradigm for socio-economic development and agricultural restructuring”.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said Vietnam paid special heed to ICT development, considering it an innovative approach to increasing productivity, competitiveness and State management efficiency.

The country is also keen to apply information and communication technology in the agricultural and fisheries sectors to enhance competitiveness and contribute to the global value chain, he said.

The Prime Minister hailed Yukio Hatoyama’s contributions to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, and suggested Japan provide more support to Vietnam , especially in rice cultivation and aquaculture in the Mekong Delta.

Yukio Hatoyama vowed to do his utmost to push the cooperative ties between the two nations in all areas. He also shared his experience in applying ICT in agriculture and announced that Japanese businesses will visit Vietnam next year to explore cooperation opportunities in this field.

That same day, Politburo member and Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group To Huy Rua hosted a reception for the former Japanese PM.

He praised the guest’s efforts in implementing humanitarian activities and running training programmes on labour, health, and high-tech agriculture in Vietnam, which have greatly contributed to deepening the strategic partnership with Japan, he said.-VNA