Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Tamura Norihisa and Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shimomura Hakubun made the remarks during their talks with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan in Tokyo on May 24.

They pledged to support Viet Nam’s socio-economic development through official development assistance (ODA).

During the talks, Nhan voiced his pleasure at the extensive and intensive development of the two countries’ cooperation and friendship. He thanked the Japanese Government and people for their great and valuable support to Viet Nam through ODA over the past 20 years, even during their struggle against earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

He suggested both sides strengthen cooperation to make bilateral ties more effective, particularly in economics, human resource development, science and technology.

Viet Nam and Japan need to accelerate the implementation of their cooperation programmes, such as those to upgrade some of Viet Nam’s universities and vocational schools, develop a coordination mechanism to ensure labour supply for Japanese investors in Viet Nam, and build the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Nhan added.

The Deputy PM asked Japan to assist Viet Nam in building and improving its capacity of seaport operation, contributing to peace and maritime safety in Asian waters.

On this occasion, the Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Kishida Fumio witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on teaching the Japanese language in Viet Nam between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

On the same day, Nhan met with former member of the House of Councillors Matsuda Iwao, former member of the House of Representatives Koizumi Toshiaki and former Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Hattori Norio. He also met Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country.

Nhan and his entourage concluded their visit to Japan on May 25.