Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked Japan to continue to encourage its businesses to invest in Vietnam during his meeting with visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Hanoi on August 1.

He also expressed wish for stronger bilateral trade, suggesting that Japan opens its door wider for Vietnamese agricultural products.

The PM pledged that Vietnam will create all possible favourable conditions for Japanese enterprises so that they can do long-term and profitable operations in the country.

The two sides should bolster their bilateral partnership in all fields, from politics and diplomacy to economics, trade, investment, tourism and development cooperation, he said, adding that it is also Vietnam’s wish to step up partnership in culture, education and training, science and technology, people-to-people contacts as well as defence and security.

Vietnam hopes Japan will continue to help with its development process, including the provision of ODA, he stated, adding that the Vietnamese Government will continue its close coordination with Japan to use this source of support in an effective manner.

PM Dung also vowed to work closely with the Japanese side to put the Vietnam-Japan University , which is considered a new symbol for the cooperation between the two countries, into operation soon. At the same time, he asked Japan will create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese students, labourers and nurses to study and work in the country.

The PM took the occasion to thank Japan for providing Vietnam’s law enforcement forces with six ships to help strengthen their capacity.

For his part, Minister Kishida briefed his host on the outcomes of his visit, expressing his belief that bilateral ties between the two countries will continue blooming, as there is still great potential for the two countries to boost their ties in the fields of economics, trade and investment.

The minister said Japan will continue providing ODA to Vietnam and supporting the country during the implementation of its industrialisation strategy.

According to him, Japan is seriously considering Vietnam’s proposal on boosting bilateral trade, including allowing more Vietnamese agricultural products in the Japanese market, visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens and receiving more apprentice nurses and orderlies from Vietnam .

Kishida added that his country will continue helping Vietnam enhance its capacity of law enforcement at sea.

Discussing peace and stability in the region, including the East Sea, the Japanese Foreign Minister lauded Vietnam’s stance, while affirming Japan ’s commitment to the maintenance of peace, stability, freedom of navigation and maritime security and safety in the East Sea, considering it as a common responsibility and interest of the international community.

He stressed that all concerned parties should settle all disputes through dialogues on the basis of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the strict implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, while working towards building a Code of Conduct in the East Sea soon and refraining from making any move that can further complicate the situation.

The same day, the Japanese foreign Minister was received by Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission To Huy Rua.

Rua, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group, and Kishida expressed their delight at the sound relations between the two friendship parliamentarian groups.

They agreed that the two sides will continue promoting the role of parliamentarians of both sides in strengthening the Vietnam-Japan ties, especially in agriculture and human resources.-VNA