Conference looks back at Vietnam-Japan 40-year ties

Scholars and researchers from Vietnam and Japan reviewed the 40-year ties between the two countries and shared their outlook on the future of the relations at an international conference in Hanoi on September 3.
Scholars and researchers from Vietnam and Japan reviewed the 40-year ties between the two countries and shared their outlook on the future of the relations at an international conference in Hanoi on September 3.

Speaking at the event, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Tanizaki Yasuaki stressed that the Vietnam-Japan relations are based on the mutual understanding between the two peoples. He said the two countries are expected to continue promoting their strong cooperation on the basis of mutual trust in the future, especially in the next decade.

The ambassador particularly noted the need to increase the awareness of young generations of the ties and boost exchange activities between young people.

The diplomat affirmed that Japan is implementing a policy to open its labour market, giving chances for Vietnamese people to work in Japan, especially in health care.

Forty years after establishing diplomatic ties, Vietnam and Japan have become strategic partners, enjoying deeper and more comprehensive cooperation not only in economics but also in various new promising areas.

During the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in January this year, the two governments agreed to lift up their strategic partnership to a new height and chose 2013 as the “Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year”, which opened up a new development period in bilateral ties.

Addressing the conference, Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences noted that Japan is now one of the major economic partners as well as one among the three largest export markets of Vietnam. Japan also leads other foreign investors in Vietnam in terms of investment disbursement.

Japan is the largest provider of official development aid (ODA) to Vietnam, accounting for almost one third of the total foreign aid to the country.

Exchanges between the two sides in culture, science-technology, education-training and human resource development have also been enhanced.

During the conference, which is part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan, participants also proposed measures to further boost the partnership between the two countries in the new period.-VNA

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