The seminar titled Việt Nam-Japan Relationship Development: History and Perspective was co-held in Hà Nội on Friday by the National Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics and the Japanese Embassy.— Photo dantri.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Relationships with Japan during 45 years has brought several positive changes to Việt Nam’s economy with official development assistance, the flow of foreign direct investment and series of co-operation projects of scientific study, national defence, education and training, labour and culture.

The comments were made by Dr Lê Quốc Lý, vice director of National Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics in a seminar marking the 45th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

The seminar titled Việt Nam-Japan Relationship Development: History and Perspective was co-held in Hà Nội on Friday by the National Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics and the Japanese Embassy.

“The co-operation relations during the years had been positively affecting Việt Nam’s economic development. Especially, the cultural exchange in recent years,” Lý said.

Japan appreciates its cooperation with Việt Nam, as reflected by the exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries and the higher level of trust between their leaders in recent years, Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Kunio Umeda said in an interview with the Việt Nam News Agency.

According to the diplomat, the relationship is stronger than ever thanks to mutual trust. Japan hopes to strengthen collaboration with Việt Nam on sustainable economic development and to ensure national defence and security. 

“This is especially important to the stability and prosperity of Japan, as well as the whole Asia-Pacific region,” he said, adding that bilateral cooperation is becoming more important in a world with changing global relations.

Bilateral economic cooperation has improved recently, with the increasing attention of Japanese businesses to Việt Nam reflected through the number of new Japanese enterprises in the nation, Umeda said.

In 2017, Japan’s direct investment in Việt Nam hit US$9.1 billion, the highest level so far. The figure for the first half of this year was $6.5 billion, making Japan the largest foreign investor in Việt Nam.

More than 3,100 Japanese businesses have investment in Việt Nam, marking an increase of 40 per cent in four years.

"Japan wishes to continue boosting the growth of Việt Nam’s economy," the ambassador said. He noted that Japan had implemented an array of collaboration programmes to develop bridges, seaports, airports and expressways.

Japan had partnered with Việt Nam in perfecting the latter’s legal system, training human resources and improving labour productivity, he added.

Along with expanding investment in the country, Japan expected to continue supporting sustainable infrastructure development in Việt Nam.

The diplomat said his country also hoped to improve Việt Nam’s administration capacity and its capability to adapt to climate change. VNS