Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (r) receives Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Tuesday said he is happy at the rapid, practical and comprehensive development of Việt Nam – Japan relations, stressing that the increase in recent exchanges of high-level delegations has helped strengthen bilateral trust.

The Government leader made the statement when he received Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono who paid him a courtesy visit while here for the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) 2018 in Hà Nội and to co-chair the 10th session of the Việt Nam – Japan Cooperation Committee.

At the reception, PM Phúc also expressed his hope for strengthened ASEAN – Japan and Mekong – Japan cooperation, especially when Việt Nam shoulders the role of the coordinator of the ASEAN – Japan relations in the 2018-2021 period. He also spoke highly of Japan’s provision of official development assistance (ODA) to Việt Nam in the recent past and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government highly valued and strove to effectively implement the ODA projects.

Phúc asked the top Japanese diplomat to accelerate the economic linkage between the two countries, especially in the fields of great potential, and spoke highly of the significant activities to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations which, he said, made important contributions to strengthening the trust and intensifying the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

For his part, Foreign Minister Kono expressed his desire to contribute to the success of the WEF ASEAN 2018 and further enhancing Việt Nam – Japan relations and cooperation. He affirmed that Japan highly valued the proactive role and active contributions by Việt Nam in international and regional issues, and asked for close coordination from Việt Nam for the success of the coming Mekong – Japan summit.

The Japanese diplomat reiterated that Japan would share with Việt Nam experiences in building an e-government and support the viewpoint of Việt Nam and other ASEAN countries in East Sea (South China Sea) issues when Việt Nam takes the role of the coordinator of the ASEAN – Japan relations from 2018. — VNS