President Truong Tan Sang presented the Friendship Order to former Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio in Hanoi on October 29.

President Sang applauded Hatoyama Yukio’s visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Speaking highly of activities held in Japan to celebrate the diplomatic ties, the State leader attributed the fruitful relationship between Vietnam and Japan to the former PM’s great contributions.

He expressed his hope that Hatoyama Yukio, in his capacity as President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, will make greater contributions to the friendship, especially on the plane of education.

The President said he believes that the former PM’s initiative to establish a Japan-Vietnam University at the Hoa Lac high-tech zone in Hanoi will come true in the next few years.

He held that the two countries boast a lot of potential for cooperation in scientific-technological application in agriculture.

For his part, Hatoyama Yukio thanked President Sang for his contributions to strengthening the Japan-Vietnam relationship.

He presented the initiative to establish health and education centres for Japanese experts and businesses in Vietnam, laying emphasis on the need to step up scientific-technological application in agriculture to help Vietnamese farmers raise the value of farm produce.

Hatoyama Yukio pledged to do his best in enhancing the relationship between the two countries.
During his stay in Vietnam, the former Japanese PM is also scheduled to visit Ho Chi Minh City and the northern province of Ha Nam.-VNA