State leader welcomes Japan's agriculture minister

President Truong Tan Sang welcomed Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa in Hanoi on August 11, during which he said that the minister's visit would help enhance the two countries' relations, particularly in agriculture.  He said he hopes that during the visit, the Japanese ministry and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will reach an important agreement, contributing to further bettering cooperation in this field.  If successful, the two countries' agricultural cooperation, expected to become a model for cooperation in the ASEAN region, will be extended to other fields, he stated.  The two sides will hold regular discussions to timely address difficulties arising during the collaboration process based on their high political trust, he added.  The Japanese minister told his host that he visited Vietnam this time to attend the second Vietnam-Japan high-level dialogue on agricultural cooperation, with a focus on a long-term joint vision on agricultural cooperation, in the hope of turning it into a model for agricultural cooperation in ASEAN.  He took the occasion to inform the President that Japan plans to export its apples to Vietnam, while considering the import of mangoes from Vietnam.  Japanese businesses are interested in Vietnam's new regulations on attracting investment in agriculture, livestock husbandry and aquatic farming, he said, hoping that Vietnam continues to improve protection of investment and intellectual property, and simplify administrative procedures to help Japanese businesses expand their investments in the country.  The minister said Japan will consider maintaining the provision of used fisheries surveillance ships for Vietnam as well as helping improve tuna fishing techniques for central Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces, and supporting the fisheries logistics service centre in the central region.  The country will also consider coordinating with Vietnam in climate change response through official development assistance (ODA), he added.

(Source: VNA)