Japanese performance at the seminar(Photo: nhandan.com.vn)
Can Tho (VNA) – The Vietnam-Japan culture exchange seminar was heldin the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 3, covering a wide range ofissues, from politics-diplomacy to culture, education-training, tourism and tradecooperation.
The event was part of the 4th Vietnam-Japan culture and tradeexchange programme taking place in Can Tho city from November 2-4.
Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam affirmedthat Japan is a large trade, investment and tourism partner of Vietnam ingeneral and Can Tho city in particular; however, bilateral cooperation is stilla far cry from potential and strengths of both sides.
He stated that the city has worked to complete mechanisms and improve businessclimate to fortify collaboration with Japan in prioritised sectors of high-techagriculture and tourism.
Prof.Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, said that the universityand Japanese businesses and individuals are running a line-up of researchprojects on renewing technologies and machines used in agriculture.
“Yanmar Agriculture Research Institute Vietnam” and “Centre for AdvancedTechnology Research and Renovation” are standout cooperative models that haveshown their significant roles in increasing productivity and reducing costs andpost-harvest loss in the agricultural sector in the Mekong Delta, he noted.
Regarding a Japan-funded project to upgrade Can Tho University, Prof. Dr. TsunodaManabu, senior consultant of the project, said that Japan will support theVietnamese university in bettering its capacity in training, scientificresearch and technology transfer in agriculture and environment.
Mentioning opportunities and challenges for Vietnam’s exports of farm produceand aquatic products to Japan when the Vietnam-Japan Economic PartnershipAgreement (VJEPA) takes effect, Dr. Pham Thi Bach Tuyet from Saigon Universitysaid that Vietnamese firms will enjoy preferential tax lines but they need toimprove quality and product brands to gain firm foothold in this fastidiousmarket.
On tourism, Nguyen Nguyen Phong from Ho Chi Minh City Open University laidstress on the “farmtrip” model, saying that it is favoured by many Japanesetourists who are fond of environmentally friendly tourism and working duringtheir trips.-VNA
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