Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung receives Fukuda Tomikazu, Governor of Japan’s Tochigi prefecture in Hà Nội on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung on Tuesday received Fukuda Tomikazu, Governor of Japan’s Tochigi prefecture, who is on a working visit to Việt Nam.

Trung warmly welcomed the visit, noting that it comes at a time when the Việt Nam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is growing strongly, effectively, and practically across all areas.

The minister thanked the Tochigi administration for its consistent support and active promotion of cooperation with Việt Nam over the years. Appreciating the investment activities of more than 20 Tochigi enterprises operating in Việt Nam, he stressed that cooperation at the local level has become increasingly substantive and serves as an effective channel for advancing Việt Nam–Japan relations.

Trung suggested that Tochigi continue to effectively implement signed agreements and further strengthen cooperation in areas that can create new development momentum for Việt Nam, such as science and technology, digital transformation, innovation, and the training of high-quality human resources. He also expressed hope that the prefecture would continue to pay attention to and support the Vietnamese community living and working in Tochigi.

Fukuda congratulated Việt Nam on its impressive accomplishments and the progress made by its people over the past 80 years since the country was founded. Agreeing with the views shared by Trung, he spoke highly of Việt Nam’s development potential, investment environment and human resources.

Informing his host that Tochigi had successfully organised the third Việt Nam Festival in the prefecture, which attracted nearly 5,000 participants, Fukuda affirmed that the Tochigi authorities always value and are committed to expanding cooperation with Việt Nam, including with Phú Thọ Province.

He also reiterated the prefecture’s determination to continue creating favourable conditions for nearly 10,000 Vietnamese people living and working in Tochigi, thereby contributing to further strengthening the Việt Nam–Japan friendship and cooperation.

During his visit to Việt Nam, the Japanese Governor is scheduled to visit and work with Phú Thọ Province. — VNA/VNS