Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính receives Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of Nippon Foundation on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

TOKYO — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính met with leaders of Japanese corporations, businesses and banks on Thursday morning as part of his ongoing visit to Japan.

During a meeting with Nobuhiko Sasaki, chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Chính spoke highly of JETRO’s practical and effective contributions to boosting trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, saying: “The Vietnamese Government always appreciates the role of the Japanese business community.”

The Prime Minister also thanked and highly appreciated JETRO for its cooperation and support for Việt Nam in connecting businesses, organising domestic and foreign investment promotion conferences, and as well as international events to address enterprises’ difficulties.

Việt Nam encourages Japanese businesses to expand investment cooperation in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, high-quality agriculture, information technology, smart cities, financial services, banking, innovation, and the equitisation of State-owned enterprises in Viet Nam, he said.

The Vietnamese Government is committed to accompanying the business community, supporting and creating all favourable conditions for business investment activities, bringing more benefits to parties, contributing to elevating Việt Nam-Japan relations to a new height, Chính said.

He sympathised with the difficulties that Japanese businesses in Việt Nam have faced.

Given the context that Việt Nam has switched to safe, flexible adaptation and effective disease control, the Prime Minister suggested that Japanese businesses work with Việt Nam in pandemic prevention and control, continue to finalise institutions, train human resources, invest in hard and soft infrastructure, cooperate in areas such as response to climate change, digital economy, green economy and circular economy.

Receiving Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of Nippon Foundation, PM Chính proposed the foundation continue support for Việt Nam in assisting wounded soldiers, people with disabilities, war victims, people affected by Agent Orange as well as human resource development.

Chairman Yohei Sasakawa pledged to continue to make efforts with Việt Nam in the sectors of common concern, especially in education, healthcare, environment, maritime security and human resource training.

At the meeting with Kanetsugu Mike, president and chief executive Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), PM Chính expressed his desire that MUFG continue to expand in new business fields, financial products and services in Việt Nam.

He asked the group to support Việt Nam in making plans, organising short-term courses on human resource training, capacity building in corporate governance and national governance.

The same day, the Vietnamese leader also had meetings with representatives of INFRONEER, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Idemitsu and Mizuho Bank. — VNS