Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on September 14 hosted a reception for Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance , Takebe Tsutomu who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

At the reception, PM Dung applauded the Japanese guest’s visit as it coincides with the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year 2013.

He said Vietnam-Japan relations have seen strong and effective development in recent years, particularly since the two nations agreed to lift their ties to a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

PM Dung also spoke highly of Takebe’s active contributions to strengthening and consolidating the relationship between the two nations over the past time, especially his initiative to build a Vietnam-Japan University in Vietnam.

He said he hopes that Takebe and the Alliance ’s members will continue to call on the Japanese Government to further enhance the multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam and maintain its official development aid (ODA) at a high level, while working to accelerate the implementation of key cooperative projects that were signed by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders.

For his part, Takebe said he is delighted at the recent comprehensive development in the Vietnam-Japan relationship over the past time.

The guest affirmed that he will make every effort to further promote and deepen the friendship between the two countries.-VNA