Tokyo (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham MinhChinh hosted separate receptions for former Special Ambassador forVietnam-Japan Sugi Ryotaro and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the JapanBank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Maeda Tadashi in Tokyo on December 18as part of his trip to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year ofASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and bilateral activities.

Highlighting progress in the Vietnam-Japan relationshipsince the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the PM thankedSugi for his sentiments and contributions to the relations, helping create afirm foundation to consolidate the close, sustainable friendship between thetwo countries’ people.

Chinh emphasised the success of manyexchange activities in new fields held with the coordination of Sugi such asthe Vietnam-Japan martial arts exchange programme within the framework of theofficial visit to Japan by President Vo Van Thuong and the Vietnam-Japan artexchange programme which took place earlier this month in Hanoi, and affirmedthat such activities have helped enhance mutual understanding and close tiesbetween the two peoples.

He suggested the former ambassador raise moreinitiatives and conduct more practical activities to contribute to theVietnam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership, especially in cultural andpeople-to-people exchanges, and humanitarian aid to disadvantaged Vietnamesechildren.

Sugi promised to make greater efforts to contribute topromoting the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, includingcoordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health in public health services.  

At the reception for Maeda, who is also SpecialAdvisor to the Cabinet of Japan, Chinh appreciated the JBIC Chairman and thebank itself for their cooperation and participation in policy dialogues withVietnamese ministries and agencies, and their efforts in promoting Japaneseinvestments in Vietnam, especially in infrastructure and energy.

Lauding Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's AsianNet Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, Chinh urged Maeda to support theimplementation of such mechanisms as the Just Energy Transition Partnership(JETP) and AZEC with Vietnam, and help Vietnamese businesses participate moredeeply in the global value chain.

He suggested JBIC continue to engage in restructuring theNghi Son Refinery and Petrochemicals LLC, especially restructuring loans withlower interest rates.

While in Japan, PM Chinh and Japanese PM Kishida agreedto establish a joint coordination group between the two governments to pushahead with a number of economic projects, including the Nghi Son Refinery andPetrochemicals LLC.

In reply, Maeda affirmed that Vietnam is the firstpartner that Japan has given support under the AZEC initiative, noting keyinternational partners strongly back the Japan-Vietnam cooperation.

He pledged to further support and cooperate with theSoutheast Asian nation in this field, and that he and the bank will make moreefforts to motivate relevant parties, including NEXI Nippon Export andInvestment Insurance, in negotiations to restructure and resolve issues relatingto the Nghi Son project./.