PM pays working visit to Japan’s Tochigi prefecture

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (fourth from left) witnesses handover ceremony of cooperation agreement between Vinh Phuc and Tochigi (Photo: VNA)

Tochigi (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on November 23 paid a workingvisit to Tochigi prefecture, where he received its Governor Fukuda Tomikazu, andattended a conference on cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese localities as part of his official visit toJapan.

Receiving Fukuda, PM Chinh welcomed the positivedevelopment in cooperation between Tochigi and Vietnamese localities, includingthe signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Vinh Phuc province duringthis visit, thus making practical contributions to the strong and extensivedevelopment in all fields of Vietnam - Japan relations.

He thanked the Governor and his prefecture for creatingfavourable conditions for the Vietnamese community amidst the COVID-19pandemic.

Meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Governor Fukuda Tomikazu (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese leader suggested Fukudaback the expansion of collaboration and investment with Vietnamese localitiesto make full use of potential and existing cooperation mechanisms, shareexperience in sustainable development with Vietnam through all-level delegationexchanges, and support local businesses to strengthen economic, trade andinvestment ties with the Southeast Asian nation.

Noting that potential for bilateral cooperation remainshuge, PM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese government is willing to create allpossible conditions for Tochigi’s enterprises to do business andinvest successfully in Vietnam.

Fukuda said that 22 enterprises from the prefecture are currentlyinvesting in Vietnam. The Vietnamese community in the province is now thelargest expat community in Tochigi with 8,000 people, he said.

He affirmed that Tochigi wishes to intensify cooperationwith more localities in Vietnam, and wants to receive more highly-skilled  workersand technical apprentices from Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at conference on cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese localities (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the conference on cooperation between Vietnameseand Japanese localities, PM Chinh stated that Vietnam has a stablepolitical environment, and its relationship with Japan is at its best ever, thus creating favourable opportunities for businesses inTochigi in particular and Japan in general to invest in Vietnam.

He showed his hope that Tochigi and Japanese businesses would pourcapital in Vietnam in climate change response, healthcare capacity improvement,clean energy, green energy and digital economy.

On this occasion, PM Chinh witnessed the signing of thecooperation agreement between Vinh Phuc province and Tochigi prefecture./.

VNA