Vietnam and Japan should increase the level of parliamentary relations, said National Assembly vice chairwoman Tong Thi Phong on March 19 as she received president of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Yukio Hatoyama in Hanoi .

She also called on Japanese enterprises to invest more in Vietnam , particularly in energy, transport, environment, healthcare and education.

Phong thanked the National Diet of Japan – the country's parliament – and the Japanese Government for maintaining the official development assistance (ODA) level for Vietnam despite its own financial crisis and natural disasters.

Japan committed 1.9 billion USD to aid Vietnam this year.

Hatoyama, who is also former Prime Minister of Japan, confirmed that his country wants to expand ties with Vietnam in all fields.

The parliamentary alliance is doing its best to enhance the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.

He also expressed his thanks over Vietnam 's 7.8 million USD in support to Japan after his country suffered from triple disasters in March 2011.-VNA