Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh applauded the thriving Vietnam – Japan extensive strategic partnership with strengthened political trust while receiving Governor of Japan’s Ibaraki prefecture Oikawa Kazuhiko in Hanoi on November 26.

Permanent Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh (R) receives Governor
of Ibaraki prefecture Oikawa Kazuhiko (Photo: VNA)

During the reception, Binh asked the Governor alongside Ibaraki prefecture authorities to further bolster cooperation with Vietnamese localities, especially in high-tech agriculture, manufacturing and processing, and precision engineering.

He expressed his confidence that the visit by the Governor will contribute to fostering the ties of friendship and cooperation between Ibaraki and Vietnam.

Japan remains the top important economic partner, the largest supplier of official development assistance, the second largest investor and the fourth largest trade partner of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese community in Japan numbers more than 370,000, making it the third largest foreign community in the country, Binh added.

Vietnam attributes great importance to cooperation between the two countries’ localities, considering it a practical and effective channel to boost joint work in the areas of trade, investment, labour and people-to-people exchange, he said.

Ibaraki prefecture-based Joyo Bank is one of the first local banks to set up a representative office in Vietnam, he said and assured Vietnam’s readiness to offer all possible support for enterprises from Ibaraki to do successful business in the country.

Binh suggested Ibaraki prefecture receive more Vietnamese apprentices and guest workers in line with a memorandum of understanding recently signed between Ibaraki prefecture and the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, as well as creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese people living and working there.

Kazuhiko, in turn, said Ibaraki’s gross domestic product (GDP) ranked 11th in Japan (roughly US$107 billion) with strengths in high-tech agriculture, precision engineering and chemicals.

The prefecture has intensified exchange with Vietnam and signed an agreement on agricultural cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, he told his host.

The governor pledged to promote Japan – Vietnam relations in general and ties between Ibaraki and Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities in particular.

Around 5,200 Vietnamese people are working and living in Ibaraki, mostly apprentices, he added.