Minister-Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar on ASEAN-Japan cooperationfor prosperity took place in Hanoi on June 4, as part of the 2019 ASEAN-JapanDay in Vietnam initiative.
Japan became a partner of ASEAN in 1973, and the relationwas elevated to an strategic partnership in 2003. The country is now the 4th biggest trade partner and 2nd biggest investor of the bloc.
In his opening speech at the event, Minister-Head of theGovernment Office Mai Tien Dung stressed Vietnam welcomes Japan’s contributionsto the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),expressing his hope for further support to the process so the deal will beconcluded this year.
Vietnam hopes for Japanese assistance toward building ASEANmember nations’ high-tech capacity and capitalising on the ASEAN – Japan freetrade agreement, the official added.
He said suggestions and proposals for specific cooperationand solutions will help deepen the ASEAN – Japan strategic partnership in linewith the new context to contribute to peace, security, and development in theregion and all over the world.
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of JapanNorikazu Suzuki wished for a stronger Vietnam – Japan relationship which couldbring peace, growth and stability for the Asia – Pacific region.
He said focusing on ASEAN’s prioritized sectors and centralrole, Japan will continue supporting the bloc’s connectivity process.
Gathering experts from ASEAN and Japanese governments, aswell as representatives of the scholar and business communities, the seminarrevolved around the topics of boosting ASEAN-Japan partnership andcomprehensive cooperation; high-tech agriculture; smart city models; and agingpopulation.-VNA
VNA
