The Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN held its sixth annual dialogue with the ASEAN Secretary General in Hanoi on July 12 to exchange their viewpoints on trade and outline their cooperation in tackling all obstacles during economic integration.

Addressing the event, both Chairmen of the Japanese Business Association in Vietnam, Motonobu Saoto, and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Hiroyuki Ishige, said ASEAN is developing dynamically, and contains abundant potential in economics and cooperation.

The dialogue is an important, great opportunity for the leader of the association and Japanese investors to share information and experiences, while listening to each other’s proposals to promote the development of ASEAN as well as Japanese businesses operating in the bloc in particular, they said.

With a total GDP of 2.1 billion USD, the 600 million-strong ASEAN with rich natural and labour resources has affirmed its increasing central role in the regional and global economic architecture.

Over the past years, despite global economic insecurities, the dynamic Southeast Asia region has continued flourishing and created many investment opportunities in various fields.

During the dialogue, the ASEAN Secretary General noted down the problems raised by Japanese businesses to seek solutions, looking to improve the region’s investment environment.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh said over the past years, Japan has been one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners and largest investors. Japan has also given Vietnam significant support in various economic development fields, which have produced good results.

All recommendations made during the event will not only benefit ASEAN but Vietnam also, he said.

At a press conference after the event, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh announced that the dialogue was a success.

He said following the previous five fruitful dialogues, this event aims to support businesses of the association in the direction towards the establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015 and discuss way to deepen economic, trade and investment cooperation between ASEAN and Japan .

The dialogue is a good mechanism to fully evaluate the implementation of measures included in comprehensive solutions heading to the setting up of the ASEAN Community and promoting the association’s integration process and making economic cooperation between the bloc and Japan more effective, he said.

During this year’s dialogue, the Japanese businesses raised practical proposals related to the approval of the comprehensive partnership between Japan and ASEAN, the settling of obstacles in the founding of ASEAN’s manufacturing establishments,the agreement on the setting up of the ASEAN telecommunication network, the continuance of the implementation of a one-stop customs inspection, cooperation in infrastructure building and development along economic corridors and the issuance of passports for businesspeople in ASEAN.

Later the same day, a regional economic forum heading to the 2015 ASEAN Community also took place to seek the full use of economic integration and development directions for industries and promote bilateral economic relations.-VNA