TOKYO – The Vietnamese Government and people always give top priority to cooperative relations with Japan and will do their best to elevate the ties to new heights for interests of the two countries’ people and for peace and prosperity in the region and in the world, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

Phúc made the statement during a meeting with Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in Tokyo yesterday. The PM and his spouse have been on an official visit to Japan where he also attended the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia. 
He stressed the importance of the royal couple’s visit to Việt Nam in March, saying that it marked a milestone in friendly and cooperative ties and facilitated the bilateral extensive strategic partnership in all fields, particularly in culture cooperation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. 
He took this occasion to invite Japanese royal members to visit Việt Nam in 2018 on the occasion of celebrations of the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties. 
The Emperor and the Empress expressed their delight to meet PM Phúc and his spouse in Tokyo and thanked the Vietnamese leaders and people for their warm hospitability during their State visit to Việt Nam 
Emperor Akihito said he expects the two nations to reinforce their relations and increase people-to-people exchanges, especially when Japan and Việt Nam will mark 45 years of diplomatic ties next year.

ODA highly treasured

At the meeting with President of the Japanese House of Councillors Date Chuichi in Tokyo the same day, Phúc said Việt Nam always treasures and effectively uses official development assistance (ODA) provided by Japan.

He affirmed that the ODA packages have contributed to Việt Nam’s socio-economic development. 
He stressed the need for the two legislative bodies to promote their role in supervising the Governments’ implementation of signed agreements in order to deepen the bilateral friendship and cooperation. 
The Government leader suggested the two sides intensify the sharing of information and experience in legislative work, promote the bridging role of the friendship parliamentarians’ organisations, and strengthen coordination at regional and international parliamentary forums, especially the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in January 2018. 
He showed his hope that the Japanese Diet continues encouraging cooperation in the labour field and between the two countries’ localities while supporting the stance of ASEAN and Việt Nam on the East Sea issue. 
President Date Chuichi highly valued Việt Nam’s economic development in recent years, affirming that he would back the Government’s efforts to foster ties with Việt Nam and support the Southeast Asian country’s socio-economic development. 
He said he hoped the Vietnamese Government would continue improving its business and investment environment to encourage Japan’s investment in the country. 
At the meeting, the two sides also agreed to strengthen cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, especially in 2018 when the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.  – VNS