Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had a busy day in Japan on Nov. 1 ashe met with several Japanese leaders before touring areas hit by theMarch earthquake and tsunami in Miyagi prefecture.
While meeting with Speaker of the Japanese House of RepresentativesTakahiro Yokomichi, PM Dung expressed his sympathy with the Japanesegovernment and people over serious losses caused by the disasters.
He stressed that one of the top priorities in Vietnam’s foreignpolicy is to attach importance to strengthening and consolidating thestrategic partnership with Japan .
The Vietnamese Government leader spoke highly of the Japanese parliament’s effective activities in favour of Vietnam .
Applauding PM Dung’s official visit to Japan , Speaker TakahiroYokomichi thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for theirvaluable support and assistance for Japan to help overcome theconsequences of the disasters.
He affirmed theJapanese parliament’s support for fostering the friendship andcooperation with Vietnam in various fields, especially in economics,trade, investment, science and technology, and education and training.
Earlier, at a meeting with Speaker of the JapaneseHouse of Counsellors Otsuji Hidechisa, PM Dung expressed his beliefthat the friendship and cooperation between the two countries andparliaments would be strengthened.
On the sameday, the PM received leaders of the International Friendship ExchangeCouncil (FEC) and Most Venerable Yoshimizu, who has had close relationswith Vietnam over many years, especially with Buddhist followers andthe Vietnamese community in Japan .
Later, PMDung left Tokyo for earthquake and tsunami-hit areas in Natori city,in the north-eastern prefecture of Miyagi , where he presentedgifts, met with local authorities and offered flowers in commemorationof the catastrophe’s victims.
Natori Mayor SasakiIsoo expressed his deep thanks for the Vietnamese State andpeople’s friendship and effective assistance for the city to overcomeearthquake and tsunami consequences and boost its post-disasterreconstruction.
Vietnam ’s goodwill deeds,effective assistance and warm sentiments for Japan are an evidencefor the friendship and close relations between the two governments andpeoples, he said.
PM Dung expressed his beliefthat the friendship and cooperation between Miyagi prefecture and Natoricity and Vietnam and its localities in particular will continue tobe consolidated and further developed in the future.
Visiting the Tohoku University in Natori city, PM Dung saidthat educational and training cooperation between the two nations havedeveloped over past years through many effective programmes andprojects.
Japan is now home to nearly 4,000 Vietnamese students, with 30 studying at the Tohoku University./.