PM looks to boost ties with Aichi prefecture

HA NOI — The Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for co-operation in trade, investment and tourism between Japan's Aichi prefecture and Viet Nam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while receiving Hideaki Ohmura, governor of Aichi, in Ha Noi yesterday.

"Japan is one of Viet Nam's biggest direct investors and major trading partners, and has been the largest ODA provider to Viet Nam for many years," he said, hoped that Aichi would work closely with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities.

Meanwhile, Ohmura said about 100 Aichi firms were already investing in Viet Nam.

He said that Aichi would continue to promote co-operation with Viet Nam in education, healthcare and tourism, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese students to study in Aichi.

Earlier yesterday, the governor held talks with Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan during which he said Aichi would provide medical support to Viet Nam, particularly when it came to surgery and treatment of cleft palates and cancer.

On the same day, a memorandum of understanding on the training of doctors and nurses specialising in cancer treatment was signed between the Health Ministry and Aichi prefecture.

Under the MoU, every year a Vietnamese doctor and a nurse will be invited to take part in a one-year training course in Japan. Viet Nam will pay the interns' travel and daily costs.

The MoU is the first health care co-operation deal signed between the Vietnamese Health Ministry and Aichi prefecture.

Aichi is the largest economic and industrial centre in central Japan, accounting for 10 per cent of Japan 's GDP.

Aichi's Chubu International Airport now offers direct flights to Ha Noi and HCM City. — VNS