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08/01/2008 – Vietnamese Prime Minister once again reiterated the country’s expectation for a long-term strategic partnership with Japan in his meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga in Hanoi on January 7.
“The government and the people of Vietnam would to its utmost to bring Vietnam-Japan ties to a long-term strategic partnership in the interest of the two countries, for peace and stability in the region and the world,” said PM Nguyen Tan Dung.
The government leader expressed his satisfaction at the extensive and intensive development of Vietnam-Japan relations in all areas, adding that the Rising Sun is still shining atop the list of foreign investors in Vietnam while two-way trade value reached almost 12 billion USD in 2007.
He praised Japan’s ODA for Vietnam, especially its support to the three major investment projects including the Hoa Lac high-tech park, the North-South express highway and the North-South express railway. “They are strategic projects for Vietnam’s economic development,” he said before expressing hope that the country want to receive more financial and technical support as well as human resource training from Japan.
The PM said that the Vietnam and Japan should sign an agreement soon to connect the two economies and make all necessary preparations for the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties.
Minister Nukaga said that the Japanese government is carefully examining the three important projects to ensure success, and further cooperation can be made in the areas of sea port and finance.
Japan will make active contributions to help Vietnam, particularly in poverty reduction and infrastructure development, the Japanese minister added.
The same day, Vietnamese Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh had a working session with his Japanese counterpart Fukushiro Nukaga to discuss measures to boost the two countries’ economic cooperation and exchange views on initiatives for regional financial cooperation.
The two sides agreed to promote bilateral and multilateral financial cooperation, and work closely with each other to accelerate regional initiatives such as the Chiang Mai Initiative and ASEAN+3 Asian Bond Markets Initiative.
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