Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President of the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) of Japan Ken Matsuzawa in Tokyo. (Photo: WVR/Duc Khai)

The Vietnamese Government leader highly appreciated the FEC's interest in Vietnam as well as its practical substantial and effective contributions to the development of the bilateral relations.

The elevation of the Vietnam - Japan relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” announced during a recent official visit to Japan by Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong opened up a new chapter in the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, with a forward-looking vision for the next 50 years based on trust and sincerity, he emphasised.

He mentioned measures to further intensify the bilateral relations, as well as Vietnam’s developmental orientations, saying that he hoped Matsuzawa and the FEC, with their reputable prestige, will actively contribute to stepping up the Vietnam – Japan relationship.

Prime Minister Chinh suggested the FEC continue to organise activities aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, support for economic cooperation, foster cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and actively support Vietnamese people residing, studying, and working in Japan.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has a working breakfast with President of the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) of Japan Ken Matsuzawa and its members in Tokyo on December 18, 2023. (Photo: (Photo: WVR/Duc Khai)

He also called on the FEC to provide support for Vietnam in the areas of finance, science - technology, human resources training, management science, and improving institutions, mechanisms and policies, contributing to the Vietnam-Japan relations and to peace, friendship, cooperation, and development in Asia and the world.

For his part, Matsuzawa noted that in recent times, Vietnam has emerged as a nation playing a significant role and holding a crucial position in politics, economy and diplomacy in the region and the world, so garnering attention from the international community.

He highlighted the flourishing development, and important achievements of the Vietnam – Japan relations over the last five decades since they established diplomatic ties, saying that the two countries share the common goal of national building and development, contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation, and development in Asia and the world.

Matsuzawa expressed his belief that PM Chinh’s trip to Japan will be a success, making significant contributions to the bilateral relations in the coming time.

The FEC’s members stated that, apart from promoting people-to-people exchanges and establishing local- and ministerial-level relations with Vietnam, the Japanese business community is interested in investing and expanding investment in Vietnam, especially in the fields of construction, industry, energy, finance, science - technology, food production, healthcare, and education - training. They expressed their desire to diversify the global supply chains through collaboration with Vietnam.

Also on December 18 morning, Prime Minister Chinh received President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko, during which he expressed appreciation for the significant contributions of the agency as well as its president in implementing official development assistance (ODA) projects in Vietnam in recent times, saying that the Vietnamese Government and its people always strive to use ODA loans strictly and effectively.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko. (Photo: WVR/Duc Khai)

He thanked JICA for effectively coordinating with Vietnam in implementing procedures for a new-generation ODA loan worth 50 billion JPY (over 351.5 million USD), contributing to lifting the ODA value between the two countries to over 100 billion USD for the first time since 2017.

ODA cooperation is an important content of economic links between the two countries, he stressed, suggesting JICA coordinate more closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities to concretise the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” with specific programmes and projects with more specific and effective roadmaps.

He called for new-generation ODA loans for Vietnam to help the Southeast Asian nation develop strategic infrastructure projects, especially large-scale transport infrastructure projects such as railways, highways, seaports, and air routes; and new sectors such as digital transformation, green transition, semiconductor industry, and innovation.

Akihiko expressed his joy that during Prime Minister Chinh's trip to Japan, additional ODA cooperation agreements between the two countries have been signed.

He agreed with proposals made by the Vietnamese leader, affirming that JICA will closely coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities of Vietnam to deploy cooperation based on the priorities mentioned by the PM. He hoped for Vietnam's collaboration to jointly address obstacles that may arise during the implementation of specific projects.