Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and leaders of four other Mekong countries paid courtesy calls to Japanese Emperor Akihito, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tadamori Oshima and President of the House of Councillors Masaaki Yamazaki in Tokyo on July 3.
Emperor Akihito welcomed the Vietnamese PM, Cambodian PM Hun Sen, Lao PM Thoongsing Thammavong, Myanmar President Thein Sein and Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha to the seventh Mekong – Japan Summit held in Japan.
He expressed his support for strengthened ties between Japan and Mekong countries for the development of each country and for the sake of peace and stability in the region and beyond.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung said Japan’s economic growth is crucial to Asia development and prosperity.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tadamori Oshima, for his part, mentioned the Friendship Parliamentary Alliances with each Mekong country and the Japan – Mekong Parliamentary Friendship Association founded this April, which are tasked with facilitating exchanges between legislatures.
He thanked Mekong countries for their support of Japan’s recovery efforts following the earthquake and tsunami disasters four years ago, saying that Japan is willing to share its disaster response experience - a key topic on the summit table.
Oshima vowed to do his best to further promote cooperation between Mekong and Japan, and between Vietnam and Japan in particular.
The Vietnamese leader thanked Oshima for his contribution to deepening Vietnam – Japan links over the past time.
President of the House of Councillors Masaaki Yamazaki said the Japanese Parliament will continue promoting exchanges with legislative bodies and parliament members in other countries, especially with those in the ASEAN.
He expressed his delight at the Vietnamese PM’s visit to Japan for the seventh Mekong – Japan Summit, adding that he values the reinforcement of comprehensive collaboration between the two nations and backs Japan’s continued assistance to Vietnam in socio-economic development.
On the occasion, the PM also conveyed National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s invitation to Yamazaki to visit Vietnam.-VNA
