NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân (right) hosts Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Umeda Kunio on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân praised the work of Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Umeda Kunio to promote relations between Việt Nam and Japan as well as between the two countries’ parliaments, during a reception for the outgoing ambassador in Hà Nội on Thursday.

She said bilateral relations have developed strongly in the recent past, as reflected in the regular exchange of high-level visits and close and effective co-ordination in regional and international issues, as well as in productive co-operation in security-defence, economics, trade, investment, tourism, labour and people-to-people exchange.

Those outcomes can be partially attributed to the contribution of Ambassador Umeda, Ngân said.

She also appreciated the bridging role of the ambassador in promoting exchanges and co-operation between the two parliaments.

The NA Chairwoman thanked the Japanese diplomat for conveying Japanese businesses’ recommendations to the Vietnamese National Assembly when revising and issuing new legal documents. She underlined the Japanese Embassy’s support for the implementation of a project funded by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to help the NA Office improve its staff members’ capacity.

Ngân also acknowledged Ambassador Umeda’s contribution to co-operation between the Việt Nam-Japan parliamentary friendship group and the Japan-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance.

The Japanese Ambassador thanked NA Chairwoman Ngân and other leaders of the Vietnamese Government for their support for him during his tenure in Việt Nam.  

He said Japan attaches great importance to the Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia with Việt Nam.

Host and guest also touched upon several specific issues in bilateral co-operation, including the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier the same day, Ambassador Umeda had a meeting with Vietnamese Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh. — VNS