Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Japanese Ambassador Tanizaki Yasuaki in Hanoi on December 25 to discuss measures to foster cooperation between the two countries.

Dung expressed his pleasure at the development of the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership over the past time, saying it has brought practical interests to the common development of the two nations.

He affirmed that Vietnam will do its utmost to work with Japan to continue boosting bilateral ties.

The PM expressed his wish that as 2013 is the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year, the two sides will promote the exchange of delegations at all levels and people-to-people exchanges to strengthen the friendship, mutual trust and understanding between the two peoples.

In the economic field, Vietnam wishes to continue receiving official development assistance (ODA) from Japan , he said, suggesting that the two sides closely coordinate in removing difficulties for economic cooperation projects between the two countries.

The Government leader also stressed that the two sides should strengthen dialogue, intensify coordination and support each other at regional and international forums for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

For his part, Yasuaki said that Japanese businesses are always interested in investment cooperation opportunities in Vietnam .

He expressed his wish that the Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Japanese companies to do long-term business in Vietnam .

Japan is ready to share experience in building and developing the national economy with Vietnam, especially in handling bad debts, he noted./.VNA