Tokyo (VNA) – The new Japanese government will continue the diplomaticpolicy for Vietnam under theAbe administration, according to ChiefSenior Economist at the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Atsusuke Kawada.

Thisis because Vietnam and other ASEAN countries are very important partners forJapan in the fields of economics, politics, and foreign affairs,Kawada told Vietnam News Agency’sreporters in Tokyo in a recent interview.

He addedthat the economic relationship between Japan and ASEAN will be furtherstrengthened and deepened in general through the annual dialogue, existingFTAs/EPAs between Japan and ASEAN countries, the framework of theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Asia-PacificEconomic Cooperation (APEC) and RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP), which is currently in the finaladjustment stage.

Kawadawas of the view that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Vietnam-Japan economic relations have madegreat progress, with remarkable increases in bilateral trade, increasedinvestment from Japan to Vietnam, and increased mobility of people between thetwo countries.

The number of Japanese investors expanding into Vietnamwas remarkable, he said, adding that Japanese companies’ interest in Vietnamhas risen further during the Abeadministration.

He also highlighted the outstanding cooperation betweenthe two countries in terms of infrastructure development under the Abeleadership, citing theHanoi – Noi Bai International Airport,the highway connecting the airport to Hanoi, and the Nhat Tan Bridge (alsoknown as the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Bridge) as examplesof constructing hard infrastructure. Meanwhile, the establishment of Vietnam-Japan University mirrors the bilateral partnership in soft infrastructure, according to him.

The economist said PrimeMinister Abe himself made a great contribution to creating an environment in whichJapanese companies can easily conduct business activities in Vietnam, throughvisiting Vietnam as the first outing destination and building extremely goodrelationships with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other Vietnameseleaders.

To strengthen Vietnam-Japan ties in economics, hesuggested the twosides further activate human resource exchange and build a mutuallycomplementary win-win relationship.

“Japanesecompanies, facing the declining birthrate and aging population, need moreVietnamese hard-working and talented human resources, and it is possible forVietnamese people to acquire various technologies and know-how from their workexperience in Japan,” he said.

He also expects Vietnamese firms to expand their businessactivities in Japan, backedby the increase in the number of Vietnamese living in Japan.

Theeconomist went on to say that to attract foreign companies including Japanesecompanies, it is important for Vietnam to continue improving the businessclimate and developing human resources.

Inorder to improve the industrial structure of Vietnam, it seems necessary towork on attracting foreign firms with technology-and knowledge-intensive industries in and around urban areas such as Hanoi, HoChi Minh City,and Hai Phong, and labor-intensive industries in rural areas, henoted.

“Tothat end, it is important that the provinces and cities of Vietnam compete witheach other to enhance their attractiveness as an investment destination,including the careful consideration of the companies that have entered themarket,” according to Kawada./.