Hanoi (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City hassigned a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Nagano prefecture toforge cooperation in industrial production, tourism, agriculture and humanresources development, according to Sai Gon Giai phong newspaper.

The MoU was inked by Vice Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem and Governor of Nagano prefectureShuichi Abe, aiming to establish a close friendly relationship based on mutualrespect and trust.

During a working session with Secretary of themunicipal Party Committee Dinh La Thang in Nagano city on April 10, Shuichi Abesaid many businesses in his prefecture want to work with HCM City in the processingindustry and hi-tech agriculture after their tour to Vietnam in 2016.

The MoU is expected to boost bilateral ties, hesaid, adding that he hopes more local companies will invest in HCM City in theaforementioned fields and tourism.

He pledged to create best conditions forNagano businesses to invest in Vietnam and HCM City.

For his part, Thang said his visit aims toexplore cooperation opportunities.

Vietnam’s southern metropolis wants to step upcollaboration with Nagano in support industry, education, human resourcestraining, transport and health care, he said, adding that the application ofJapanese technologies in Vietnam will help the city address important issues inproduction development, environmental protection and food safety.

He said Nagano is strong in temperateagricultural products, electronics, information technology, mechanics and tourism. Meanwhile,HCM City boasts potential in tropical agriculture and has big demand to developNagao’s fields of strength.

Currently, about 17 Nagano businesses invest inHCM City with total capital of more than 20 million USD, he said, noting thatthe prefecture’s Hachijuni bank has sent representatives in Vietnam to helpJapanese businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian country.

He expressed his belief in an increase in investment from Nagano in HCM City.

Apart from economic partnership, cultural andpeople-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Nagano are thriving through the10-year-old Nagano-Vietnam Exchange Association.

The delegation from HCM City also visitedMatsumoto and Shiojiri cities in Nagano prefecture to learn about local tourismand hydroponic farming.

Delegates visited Tokyo Keiki company, whichspecialises in producing hi-tech measurement equipment, and 70 percent of itsproducts are assembled at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Vietnam.-VNA