(VNA) - Prime Minister Phan Van Khai met with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi in Tokyo on July 1 during a stop-over in Japan on his way home after concluding official visits to the United State and Canada.

The two PMs were pleased at the development of the two countries' relations in many fields and were of the same view to actively boost the partnership of mutual trust and long-term stability as previously agreed.

PM Khai expressed thanks to the Japanese government and people for their increased official development assistance to Viet Nam. He reiterated that Viet Nam will accelerate the disbursement of Japanese-funded projects, and create favourable conditions for Japanese businesses to increase investment in Viet Nam in the spirit of the Viet Nam-Japan initiative and in conformity with the bilateral investment agreement between the two countries.

He thanked the Japanese Government for resolving the bilateral talks regarding Viet Nam joining the WTO, describing the move as practical assistance to Viet Nam's national development and international economic integration.

PM Koizumi pledged to closely cooperate with Viet Nam and other APEC member economies to ensure the success of the 2006 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which is to be hosted by Viet Nam.

PM Khai invited PM Koizumi to attend the summit and visit Viet Nam. Koizumi accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The two PMs agreed to make contributions to the first ever East Asia conference to ensure its success.