Vietnam wants to develop its comprehensive cooperation with Japan as a top external relations policy, President Truong Tan Sang has consistently told the Japanese press during his State visit to the country from March 16-19.

“Vietnam and Japan are really important partners in all fields,” the president declared.

The two sides have maintained the exchange of high-ranking delegations and closely worked at multilateral forums, contributing to consolidating political trust.

He said he believes that political trust and cultural similarities between the nations provide a strong foundation on which to build an even greater partnership.

Praising the impressive outcomes of the two countries’ partnership in the past 40 years, he added that greater ties would satisfy the people’s aspirations for continuing peace, prosperity, cooperation and development in the region.

Vietnam wants to boost extensive cooperation with Japan in all fields, focusing on economics, trade and investment, he reaffirmed, adding that he had been accompanied on his visit by a strong business delegation seeking new bilateral opportunities.

Vietnam and Japan are expected to at least double the current two-way trade of 25 billion USD by 2020, with more investment flowing into public-private partnership projects.

President Sang told the media that Vietnam particularly wishes to seek Japanese assistance in implementing its industrialisation strategy, which focuses on the production of agricultural machinery; processing of food and agro-forestry products; electric-electronic industry; shipbuilding; environment-energy saving; and automobiles and spare parts.

Furthermore, Vietnam wishes that Japan maintain its official development assistance and support the implementation of mega projects in infrastructure, energy and the supporting industry, helping the Southeast Asian nation implement its economic restructuring and sustainable growth.

The president said he hopes for close coordination in promoting regional economic links, including negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).

At the end of President Sang’s visit to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the outcomes of the trip. The two leaders issued a joint statement on the establishment of the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries for peace and prosperity in Asia.

He noted that the visit also saw the two countries sign a number of agreements in investment, trade, education, health and agriculture.

According to Minh, agriculture became a priority in bilateral cooperation during this visit. The two sides agreed to set up a joint working group to step up connections in the area, with a first session to be held in Vietnam later this year.-VNA