Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) received Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane on January 30 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Japanese Ministry of ForeignAffairs will continue close cooperation with its Vietnamese counterpart so asto enhance the two countries’ relations in an effective manner, said Japan’sState Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane.
He made the affirmation at a meeting withVietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoion January 30.
Voicing his delight at the strong, comprehensiveand substantive growth of bilateral ties in all aspects in 2017, Nakanestressed that Vietnam’s development is important to Japan.
He added his country is ready to assist Vietnamin economic development and administrative reform, including buildinghigh-quality infrastructure and promoting negotiations on an agreement onmutual legal assistance in criminal matters and another on the transfer ofsentenced persons.
The state minister noted Japan promoted thecompletion of talks on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) so that the deal could be signed in the timeahead. He appreciated Vietnam’s close cooperation in this work.
Japan will coordinate closely with Vietnam atinternational and regional forums like the United Nations, the Asia-PacificEconomic Cooperation (APEC), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) when Vietnam becomes the coordinating country of Japan-ASEAN relationsfrom late 2018, Nakane added.
For his part, Deputy PM Minh noted withsatisfaction the all-round development of the two countries’ extensivestrategic partnership, especially mutual visits and meetings between theirleaders in 2017, including a trip by the Japanese Emperor and Empress and twovisits by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.
He highly valued Japan’s official developmentassistance (ODA) for Vietnam’s socio-economic development, particularlyinfrastructure building, and asked for the continuation of ODA provision.
The host official asked the two countries tocontinue promoting mutual high-ranking visits in 2018, when they mark the 45thfounding anniversary of diplomatic ties. They should also bolster cooperationin economy, trade, and investment, especially increasing Japan’s admission ofVietnamese apprentices when the Northeast Asian nation prepares for the 2020Summer Olympics.-VNA
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