Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrives in Japan

The visit, made at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, takes place during the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, aiming to enhance and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries - especially in economics, investment and development assistance - as well as their co-ordination at regional and international forums.

Over the past years, the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership has seen in-depth and concrete development. Economics is among the bright spots in their bilateral ties.

Japan is one of Vietnam's leading economic partners and the first in the group of the world's most industrialized nations (G7) to recognise its full market economy status (October 2011).

Two-way trade in 2012 totalled US$24.7 billion, and has reached US$22.9 billion during the first 11 months of this year. The two sides have set a target of doubling bilateral trade turnover by 2020.

Japan remains the leading ODA donor to Vietnam and ranks first among 101 countries and territories investing in the country.

The two countries have also built an efficient partnership in a wide range of areas including labour, culture and information, education and training, science and technology and tourism.

Within the framework of his visit to Japan, PM Nguyen Tan Dung will attend a summit marking the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan dialogue relations.

On the sidelines of the summit, the fifth Mekong-Japan Summit will be chaired by PM Shinzo Abe and attended by leaders of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

On December 13, the Vietnamese Government leader will meet representatives of Japan's leading businesses and associations operating in the economic, scientific and technological fields.

(Source: Nhandannewspaperonline)