Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee convenes 10th meeting

Both sides expressed their delight at the strong, comprehensive, and practical development of the Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership. They agreed on the necessity of maintaining high-level visits and intensifying cooperation between ministries, sectors, and localities in all fields. They also exchanged views on specific measures to both realise the outcomes of meetings by senior leaders in the past, and to prepare for upcoming visits. Both affirmed their determination to implement the second phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative to boost Japan's investment in Vietnam, and pledged close coordination to soon put the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) into effect. They discussed the situation of ongoing ODA projects in Vietnam, as well as measures to speed up the implementation of these projects and investment projects. They reached a consensus on stepping up cooperation in the form of public-private partnership (PPP). The two sides also exchanged opinions on how to develop support and automobile industries in Vietnam; boost collaboration in trade and agriculture, and facilitate the export of Vietnam's lychee, longan, and star apple to Japan, as well as the latter's orange exports. Minh thanked Japan for its ODA provision for Vietnam, hoping to receive the country's assistance in building e-government, smart cities, and public administrative reform. Kono, in turn, affirmed that Japan is very willing to back and assist Vietnam in sustainable development through improving the investment environment, increasing competitiveness of industries and labour productivity, building high-quality infrastructure, and human resources training. He committed to continued ODA provision for Vietnam in order to develop high-quality infrastructure, step up administrative reform, and respond to climate change.

Both sides were unanimous in maintaining cooperation in organising activities to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018, thus helping foster cooperation in tourism and culture, and exchanges between the two countries' people and localities.

(Source: VNA)