Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhreceived Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshiin Hanoi on November 3, affirming that Vietnam always views the Northeast Asiancountry as a trustworthy, leading important and long-term partner.

Bothhost and guest noted with satisfaction the strong and substantive developmentof the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership in multiple areas. They expressedtheir hope to further intensify the fruitful relations in all fields tocontribute to regional and international peace, cooperation, and development.

PMChinh asked the two sides to keep enhancing political trust via mutual visitsand meetings at high and ministerial/sectoral levels; increase cooperationbetween the countries’ localities and businesses; promote people-to-peopleexchanges, including via Japan’s consideration of an opener visa policy forVietnamese people; and create favourable conditions for the nearly 500,000Vietnamese to live, study and work in Japan.

He called for Japan’s support for Vietnam to carry out industrialisationand modernisation, and build an independent and self-reliant economy with proactive,extensive, substantive and effective integration into the world.

TheGovernment leader suggested Japan assist Vietnam in boosting green transition,digital transformation and innovation; developing high technology andsemiconductor industries; and fostering the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medicalequipment sectors to serve public health care.

He also asked Japan to assist the Southeast Asian nation tosurvey, mine, process and produce new materials; create conditions forVietnamese businesses to engage more deeply in global supply chains of Japan;continue opening its market to agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam,especially fresh fruits; build and perfect regulations; train human resources;and transfer technology and capital to help with the development of differentfields.

In particular, PM Chinh called for the Japanese Government’ssupport and provision of new-generation official development assistance (ODA) forVietnam to develop large-scale strategic infrastructure facilities such as theNorth - South high-speed railway project.

Informingthe PM about the outcomes of the sixth meeting of the countries’ JointCommittee for industrial, trade and energy cooperation held the same day, MinisterNishimura said his country supports Vietnam’s targets of becoming a modern andindustrialised country by 2045, securing net zero emissions by 2050, anddeveloping future-oriented industries. He suggested Vietnam support the Asia ZeroEmission Community (AZEC) initiated by Japan.

Agreeingwith his host’s opinions, he said Japan will work closely with ministries,sectors, and agencies of Vietnam via working groups to foster ties in differentareas, especially science - technology transfer and manpower training, alongwith via cooperation at multilateral mechanisms, especially the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Japan will reserve resources for implementing “locomotive”projects that lead the development of spearhead industries such assemiconductor production, artificial intelligence, biotechnology,pharmaceutical, healthcare, and fishery processing, he noted, adding that hiscountry also wishes to cooperate with Vietnam in surveying, exploiting andprocessing rare earth and developing related industries.

PMChinh spoke highly of the outcomes of the Joint Committee’s sixth meeting aswell as the establishment of working groups to step up cooperation, asking thetwo sides to effectively carry out the meeting’s joint statement.

He affirmed Vietnam’s encouragement and optimal conditions for Japanesefirms to invest and cooperate in the country for the sake of sustainabledevelopment and interests of both sides. It will keep coordinating closely andeffectively implementing AZEC, initiated by Japanese PM Kishida Fumio, tocontribute to the success of this initiative./.