"The fruitful outcome of the visit and the talks between us have illustrated our resolve in taking our reliable partnership to a new level in the interest of the two peoples and for peace, stability, security, cooperation and development in Asia and the rest of the world," stressed PM Dung.

In an interview with Viet Nam News Agency, the Prime Minister said that "the visit demonstrates the aspiration by both sides to bring friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation to a new height and usher in a new chapter in the friendly relations encouraged by both Governments and peoples during the past decades."

The two sides agreed to become strategic partners for building peace and prosperity in Asia, carry out more visits by high-ranking officials and exchanges between parliamentarians, ministries, agencies and localities in the fields of politics, economics, diplomacy and security, the Government leader said.

He noted that the Japanese side had given high priority to Viet Nam's proposal to sustain and increase Official Development Assistance (ODA) in order to boost infrastructure and technology projects, particularly in building the north-south road and railways and the Hoa Lac hi-tech zone.

The two sides also agreed to start official negotiations on an Economic Partnership Agreement next January, expand trade cooperation, increase two-way trade turnover to 15 billion USD by 2010 from 8.5 billion USD last year, PM Dung said.

He added the two sides encouraged Japanese companies to promote ties in science and technology, education and training, cultural exchange and create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese students in Japan.

PM Dung said Japan had affirmed to continue assistance for Viet Nam in integrating with the world economy and successfully organise the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Meanwhile, Viet Nam reasserted its support for Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nation's Security Council.
Japan also backed Vieät Nam's bid to become a non-permanent member in the council during the 2008-09 term.

In his meeting with Japanese leaders, the Prime Minister affirmed that Viet Nam was an effective ODA user and that the Government took the lead in strictly combating wastage and corruption while using international aid, including from Japan.

This was also appreciated by the Japanese Diet, politicians and enterprises, the PM told the VNA reporter.
During his stay in Japan, PM Dung had talks with the Speakers of the House of Representatives and the House of Counsellors, delivered a speech before the Parliament, paid a courtesy visit to the Emperor and Emperess, and met former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and executives from 60 leading economic groups.

PM Dung also attended two seminars on investment and visited Osaka.

The leader was accompanied by almost 60 businesspeople, who had managed to sign a number of major accords in investment and trade.

In addition to the five contracts signed at a workshop on investment held in Tokyo, Vietnamese businesses have signed a number of programmes of cooperation such as a 50 million USD contract for the construction of a steel production factory by the Viet Nam Steel Corporation. The Coal and Mineral Industries Group has signed an agreement for mining aluminium in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. The Foreign Trade Bank has held a workshop with the participation of 140 businesses seeking loans for major projects.