HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc thanked Japan for providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Việt Nam over the past 26 years, aiding the country’s efforts to boost the economy, reduce poverty and develop infrastructure. 

He made the remarks while receiving Kawamura Takeo, chairperson of the Japanese House of Representatives’ Committee on Budget, who is on a visit to Việt Nam, in Hà Nội on Wednesday. 
Việt Nam and Japan are enjoying booming relations in all fields with increasing high-level exchanges and political trust, he said. 
The PM described Japan as Việt Nam’s top economic partner as it is the country’s largest provider of ODA and second biggest foreign investor. The Government of Việt Nam highly appreciates Japanese ODA; and has put great efforts into fulfilling commitments on ODA-funded projects agreed by the two countries and making effective use of the ODA, he noted. 
Phúc also spoke highly of the Việt Nam–Japan University, a key project between the two countries, saying the Vietnamese Government will provide all possible conditions for the university’s operation. 
To take the two countries’ strategic partnership to new heights, PM Phúc asked his guest to back the expansion of the bilateral economic ties and FDI flow from Japan to Việt Nam as well as support the continued provision of ODA to the Southeast Asian country, particularly in projects in infrastructure, high-quality human resources training and response to climate change. 
He affirmed that his Government has consistently worked to facilitate Japanese investors doing business in Việt Nam. 
The PM also suggested that the two countries continue fostering cooperation in education and workforce training. He welcomed the pilot implementation of Japan’s KOSEN vocational training model in Việt Nam and proposed Japan accept more Vietnamese trainees. 
The two countries also need to accelerate exchanges between their peoples and localities, especially when they are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. 
Kawamura Takeo, for his part, conveyed thanks from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Việt Nam for the support offered to the Japanese people after recent natural disasters. 
He went on to say that the Japanese PM backed the view of promoting close cooperation with Việt Nam on bilateral and multilateral issues. 
The Japanese House of Representative’s Committee on Budget looks forward to tightening partnership with Việt Nam at large and the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Việt Nam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, in particular, said Takeo, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Japan-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance. 
He appreciated the Vietnamese Government’s policy on facilitating the Việt Nam–Japan University’s operation, noting he is happy to see the Japanese language widely taught in Việt Nam. He also said that Japan is seeking more Vietnamese trainees. 
Japan is looking forward to PM Phúc’s visit to Japan for the upcoming Mekong-Japan Summit, the Japanese parliamentarian said. — VNA