Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception to welcome new Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Hiroshi Fukada in Hanoi on January 23.

He told the new ambassador that the relations between the two countries are growing across the board and that Vietnam wants to further foster those growing ties.

The Party leader expressed his hope to continue receiving cooperation, assistance and experience from Japan to serve the country’s course of transforming its growth.

He said he believes that with his knowledge on Vietnam, the ambassador will be helpful in further deepening the two countries’ strategic partnership to meet the aspirations and interests of the two peoples.

Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada recalled the time when he was in Vietnam two decades ago to take part in building the initial foundation for economic cooperation between the two countries and said he is impressed with Vietnam’s development achievements today.

The diplomat pledged to do his best to step up the bilateral friendship and expand cooperation to make the two countries’ strategic partnership stronger for the sake of peace and prosperity in Asia and both nations.-VNA