Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Nov. 7 held talks with his Japanese counterpart, Yukio Hatoyama, during which they pledged to promote relations between Japan and Mekong subregion countries, as well as the bilateral Japan-Vietnam relations.

During the talks, PM Dung, who was in Tokyo to attend the Mekong-Japan summit, complimented the Japanese government for successfully organising the first summit with Mekong countries.

He confirmed that the Vietnamese government will work closely with Japan and other Mekong subregion countries to implement the agreements reached at the summit with a view to promoting the development and prosperity of the Mekong subregion and the Asia-Pacific.

Meanwhile, Japanese PM Hatoyama thanked Vietnam for hosting the second Mekong-Japan summit next year.

The two leaders exchanged opinions on international issues of mutual concern as well as progresses of the bilateral relations. They agreed to strengthen and develop the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership that covers all areas from politics, economics and culture.

The Japanese PM said he highly appreciated the Vietnameses government’s efforts for socio-economic development and its handling of impacts from the global economic crisis to maintain economic growth.

He affirmed that the new government of Japan, under his leadership, attaches great importance to the relationship with Vietnam and will relentlessly try to develop the strategic partnership with Vietnam .

PM Dung thanked PM Hatoyama for Japan’s financial support to Vietnam, including ODA loans and a 500 million USD emergency budget aid, which he said was useful to Vietnam ’s cause of national construction and international integration.

The two prime ministers said both countries would continue to exchange delegations at all levels and step up people-to-people exchange activities to promote mutual understanding and belief. They agreed to soon organise the third working session of the Vietnam-Japan cooperation committee to discuss concrete measures of boosting the comprehensive cooperation.

PM Hatoyama said Japan would continue to help Vietnam conduct large projects in line with earlier agreements, including the North-South highway, the North-South high-speed railway and the Hoa Lac High-tech zone. The Japanese government, he said, is considering to join in other projects, such as construction of the terminal 2 at Noi Bai international airport, infrastructure of Hai Phong international port and the Hoa Lac space centre.

The two prime ministers agreed to further boost bilateral cooperation in security and defence, rescue work, education and training; as well as bilateral coordination at regional and international forums, especially in 2010 when Vietnam will assume the role of ASEAN Chair and Japan will chair the APEC summit.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of a diplomatic note concerning Japan ’s 500 million USD budget support loan to Vietnam.

PM Dung and the government delegation left Tokyo later the same day./.