Vietnamese President successfully concludes Japan visit

( 04-12-2007) President Nguyen Minh Triet, his wife and his entourage arrived in Ha Noi on the evening of November 29, successfully concluding the State visit to Japan at the invitation of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

During the November 25-29 visit, President Triet met with Japanese Emperor Akihito and held talks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

He also met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Kono Yohei, the House of Councillors President Eda Satsuki and the Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura.

Meetings were also held with the President of the Communist Party of Japan Kaxuo Shii and a number of major Japanese economic organisations and groups.

He and his wife also visited Kyoto, the former capital city of Japan .

Talking with the journalists who accompanied him, President Triet said that the visit gained exceptional results with the two sides reaching unanimity on all matters addressed and promising to raise Viet Nam-Japan friendship and cooperation to new heights.

On the prospect of commercial and investment cooperation, President Triet said Japanese economic groups expressed their commitment to expand investment in Viet Nam and hoped to receive support from the Vietnamese government and relevant ministries, sectors and localities.

Before leaving Japan , President Triet visited Osaka city - the final leg of his State visit to the country - where he attended and addressed the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Forum with the participation of around 600 Japanese and Vietnamese businesses. The forum was jointly held at the New Otani Hotel by the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren), the Japan External Trade Organisation, and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Addressing the forum, the State President emphasized that for Viet Nam's economic development, Japan has proved to be a comprehensive partner with large ODA and investment fundings.

President Triet expressed his belief that the bilateral economic partnership agreement (EPA) will soon be signed to boost Japan's investment in Viet Nam and expand bilateral trade ties as well as promote the exchange between the two countries in various fields, including science-technology, education, culture and tourism.

"Both countries boast huge untapped potential," said the President, noting that the combination of sources that can be supplemented each other will offer a huge and effective cooperation opportunity for the two countries.

"Viet Nam wants Japanese investors, including those from Osaka , to explore, invest and do business in Viet Nam , and join Viet Nam in bringing prosperity to the two countries and the region as a whole," he added.

The President went on to say: " Viet Nam 's investment environment is more transparent and open with a young hard-working staff which meet businesses' requirement. Furthermore, investment cost in Viet Nam is relatively low and the country boasts stable political environment which is conductive to investment. Last but not least, Viet Nam warmly welcomes foreign investors."

However, he said, there remains shortcomings in the country, citing infrastructural facilities failed to meet investors' requirement while qualified and skillful managment staff was not enough. In addition, the auxiliary industry sector was still below the country’s demand for industrial development.

The President noted that these shortcomings would be tackled with the cooperation of and investment capital from the Japanese Government and economic groups.

He also pointed to the slow administrative procedures - the shortcoming that Viet Nam is determined to overcome in order to create a more favourable condition for foreign investors to operate in the country.

President Triet hoped that Osaka, a big economic centre in Japan, will cooperate with Vietnamese counterparts to invest in hi-tech sector, auxiliary industry, electronics, information technology, export processing, trade and service.

Also on November 29, President Triet received former Kankeiren Chairman Yoshihisa Akiyama, former parliamentarian Wada and the Director of the Kansai prefecture's Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Association.

The State President attended banquets hosted by the Governors of Osaka and Hiogo prefectures, the Mayors of Osaka and Kankeiren cities and the Osaka Trade Chamber.

He also toured Panasonic Plasma screen plant, the refinery of Japan 's Oil and Gas Group and the new runway of the Kansai airport.

Concluding his official State visit to Japan , President Triet cabled a message of thanks to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

In his message, the State leader extended his thanks to Emperor Akihito and the Queen, Prime Minister Fukuda and the Japanese people for their warm welcome.

“I believe that, with our wish and determination, in the spirit of the joint declaration to deepen the Viet Nam-Japan relationship, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries will be fostered and developed for the interests of the two people, and for peace, stability and development of the region and the world at large,” the message stated.