Measures to effectively deploy the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) top the agenda of a meeting between officials from the two countries in Tokyo on Oct. 1.

This is the first meeting by the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the VJEPA since the two countries officially signed the accord in 2008.
The event marked a new step forward in economic, trade, cooperation and investment relations between Vietnam and Japan, said Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okada affirmed that the relation between the two sides has been steadily developing, not only in economy, trade and investment but also in many other fields. “ Japan’s firm policy is that the Japan-Vietnam relation will be brought to a greater height,” Minister Katsuya added.

The negotiation on the VJEPA started in January 2007, shortly after the accession of Vietnam to the World Trade Organisation. The two nations officially signed the accord on December 25, 2008.

VJEPA is Japan’s 10th free trade agreement after it signed with Singapore, Mexico, Malaysia, Chile, Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The VJEPA is the first bilateral free trade agreement for Vietnam since entering the WTO.

Under the framework of the VJEPA, 94 percent of exports and 86 percent of agricultural exports from Vietnam to Japan will enjoy tax exemption within 10 years after the VJEPA takes effect.

In the first stage of the implementation of the pact, the two countries will give priority to drawing up projects related to training Vietnamese nurses in Japan, building a system to appraise the qualifications and ability of medical workers, setting up a business dialogue mechanism in the garment sector; and developing support industries.

Other projects on the safety, hygiene, cultivation and quality standards of food products will also receive careful attention./.