Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) to bring two business communities together in a move to advance the Vietnam – Japan economic and trade links.

Receiving JCCI Chairman Akio Mimura in Tokyo on December 13, PM Dung made it clear that Japan is Vietnam’s top important partner with economic-trade-investment cooperation, and development assistance being strengthened to benefit both sides.

The Vietnamese Government always strives to create a pro-growth business environment, the leader said, informing the Chairman that both countries launched the fifth phase of the Vietnam – Japan Joint Initiative to improve the investment environment and increase the competitiveness of the Vietnamese economy. The phase with 100 sub-items is slated for completion next December.

Additionally, the two sides have also worked to effectively realise the Vietnam – Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, the Government leader said.

Mimura stated that JCCI will liaise with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to forge deeper economic and trade connections.

Meeting with President of Sumitomo Corporation Nakamura Kuniharu and representatives from top Japanese firms in information technology the same day, PM Dung noted that there remains huge potentials to further embrace economic links.

He told Kuniharu that both countries have outlined an industrialisation strategy as part of the Vietnam – Japan cooperation framework with six areas of priority. Progresses in the establishment of the ASEAN Community and negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement will present new economic chances, he said.

The Government leader also vowed all possible support for Japanese information technology companies in Vietnam , especially those active in value-added fields, software, information technology, biotechnology, renewable energy and hi-tech farming.

At the meeting with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko the same day, the Vietnamese leader expressed hope that Akihiko will lobby the Japanese Government for high amount of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam during the 2013 fiscal year and the following years.

The PM declared that his Government will effectively use ODA and has asked ministries and agencies to carry out ODA-funded projects as scheduled.

Akihito said JICA will keep up with funding for Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi and Lach Huyen port in Hai Phong, among others.

He asked for joint coordination in the shake-up of State-run enterprises and turning Lach Huyen into a regional transhipment port soon.-VNA