Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assured Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Nakane Kazuyuki in Hanoi on May 14 that Vietnam wants to deepen comprehensive ties with Japan for the sake of the two peoples.

He continued to say that during the Mekong-Japan Summit slated for this July, Vietnamese and Japanese leaders will discuss strengthening strategic partnerships across the board, especially in politics-diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, maritime security and labour.

The host also wished for Japan ’s continued supply of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam to develop its socio-economic infrastructure and thanked Japan for its substantial and effective ODA to the country in recent years.

Kazuyuki said Japan commits to ODA provision for Vietnam ’s sustainable development, infrastructure and personnel training, as well as continued collaboration with Vietnam in the support industry, agriculture and urban development.

Japan will work closely with Vietnam to build Cho Ray 2 hospital in Ho Chi Minh City , he added.

On maritime security and East Sea issues, the guest concurred with the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea , saying it is in the common interests of countries regionally and globally.

He expressed hope for parties concerned to fully and effectively realise the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea for strengthened mutual trust, exercise restraint, avoid threats or the use of force, settle differences and disputes peacefully in line with international law—including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—towards early consensus on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

The Japanese Vice Foreign Minister asked for an immediate end to unilateral actions, imposition and use of power to change the status quo in the East Sea.-VNA