HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese President Trần Đại Quang received Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Wednesday.

Minister Kono is in Việt Nam to attend the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 and to co-chair the 10th session of the Việt Nam-Japan Cooperation Committee.

President Quang took this occasion to send his sympathy to the Japanese people for the huge losses caused by a devastating earthquake in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

The President said he was happy with the rapid development of the Việt Nam-Japan partnership in all fields. He said that particular progress has been made in the fields of trade and investment co-operation, agriculture, human resources training and cultural exchange.

The two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

He affirmed political trust between the nations has grown through state visits by senior leaders, notably the visit by the Japanese Emperor and Empress in 2017. The Vietnamese President and his spouse visited Japan in May.

President Quang asked the Japanese FM to try to deepen the Việt Nam-Japan friendship and promote economic collaboration.

He voiced his hope that Japan will continue providing official development assistance (ODA) for Việt Nam’s infrastructure, human resource development and climate change adaptation.

The President spoke highly of Japan’s assistance to Việt Nam, highlighting firefighting and search and rescue as areas in which Japan has provided extra help.

He said celebrations surrounding the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties had enhanced understanding between the Vietnamese and Japanese people.

In reply, Japanese FM Kono expressed his delight at the development of the Việt Nam-Japan partnership in all spheres, also citing recent high-profile state visits as a source of improved ties.

He pledged to accelerate the implementation of agreements signed by senior leaders of the two countries.

He said Việt Nam’s sustainable development will contribute to peace, stability and co-operation in the region, adding that Japan will continue to lend support.

He also voiced his hope the two nations would increase contact at regional and international forums, especially as Việt Nam assumes the role as coordinator of ASEAN-Japan relations in the 2018-21 period. — VNS