Strengthening friendship between Binh Duong province and Japan’s Yamaguchi

Yesterday afternoon of December 18, the People's Committee of Binh Duong province coordinated with the authority of Yamaguchi Prefecture from Japan to solemnly organize the 10th anniversary of establishing friendly cooperative relations. The event emphasized the increasingly close cooperative relationship between Binh Duong province and Yamaguchi Prefecture, as well as Japanese partners in recent times, while discussing the direction of specific cooperative activities in the future.

A memorandum of understanding on strengthening friendly cooperation and a working document on the dispatch and reception of personnel between the People's Committee of Binh Duong province and the authority of Yamaguchi Prefecture is being signed

Continuous consolidation to develop comprehensively

Based on the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World" between Vietnam and Japan, Binh Duong province and Yamaguchi Prefecture signed a memorandum of understanding on friendly cooperation on December 25, 2014. After 10 years of friendly cooperation, Binh Duong province and Yamaguchi Prefecture are currently in their best phase, becoming increasingly dynamic, proactive, and effective. The two localities have actively implemented activities for high-level delegation exchanges, coordinated to organize conferences and investment promotion seminars to attract investment into Binh Duong province; actively implemented many cooperation programs in the fields of industry and trade, labor, education, health, sports, and many other exchange activities... contributing to the socio-economic development of the two localities, strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and Japan in general, and between Binh Duong and Yamaguchi Prefecture in particular.

On a general level, Japan currently ranks second among 65 countries and territories with investment projects in Binh Duong province, with 357 projects and a total capital of nearly 6 billion US dollars. Most Japanese multinational companies and corporations have investment projects in Binh Duong, such as Panasonic, Toshiba, Foster, Tokyu, Fujikura, Aeon…

Mr. Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, emphasized that the aforementioned positive results have contributed to strengthening the friendly cooperative relationship between Binh Duong and Yamaguchi Prefectures, serving as a solid foundation for the two localities to continue exploring new cooperation potentials, together nurturing a relationship of solidarity and mutual development. Mr. Muraoka Tsugumasa, Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, also affirmed that the cooperation and exchanges between the two localities over the past time have achieved outstanding and commendable results. Since signing the memorandum of understanding in 2014, based on trust and a solid foundation in various fields such as economy, education, and culture, overcoming geographical distances, the two localities have always strived to build a reliable relationship with each other and deepen their connection. In the future, the good relationship between the two localities will develop to new heights, contributing to the development of both Vietnam and Japan.

Looking towards the future

Speaking at the anniversary celebration, Mr. Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee expressed his joy and pride in the achievements that Binh Duong and Yamaguchi Prefectures have attained. This event aims to practically recall the very good cooperative relationship between the two provinces; it is also an opportunity for Binh Duong province and its Japanese partners to evaluate the results of cooperation in the past and set directions for future cooperation.

Discussing the challenges of the industry towards carbon neutrality, Mr. Muraoka Tsugumasa, Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, shared that the industry in Yamaguchi Prefecture accounts for 70% of the province's economic structure, thus the goal of achieving carbon neutrality is extremely important for the province. He also mentioned that the growth and development of the industry in Yamaguchi Prefecture is based on the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. The province will focus on implementing five contents, including: restructuring energy supply and demand; promoting, innovating, and creating growth industries; actively transforming and developing new business; closely cooperating between enterprises, research institutes, schools, and public finance; and enhancing the integration of central policies. Mr. Muraoka Tsugumasa expressed his desire for Binh Duong and Yamaguchi Prefectures to share and cooperate even more strongly towards the common goal of carbon neutrality in the near future.

Recently, Japanese investors have continued to invest heavily in infrastructure, urban development, and trade-services in Binh Duong. According to provincial leaders, Binh Duong is a locality that has made remarkable industrial progress, but the province also faces challenges such as carbon emissions, hazardous waste, and wastewater. Therefore, Binh Duong has drawn many profound lessons about developing alongside environmental protection. Aiming for carbon neutrality and establishing a new ecosystem, Binh Duong has adopted a policy of developing green industry and carbon neutrality. Currently, the province has allocated 16,000 hectares of land to establish a green industrial zone to attract green and clean development investors.

Sharing about sustainable development cooperation towards the future, Mr. Vo Van Minh, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, believes that based on the potential, strengths, and solid cooperation foundation with Yamaguchi Prefecture in particular and Japan in general, Binh Duong will continue to be an ideal destination for Japanese investors in the coming years. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of establishing friendly cooperative relations with Yamaguchi, Binh Duong also hopes that the good relationship between the two localities will reach new heights, contributing to the development of both Vietnam and Japan.

Within the framework of the 10th anniversary celebration of establishing friendly cooperative relations between Binh Duong and Yamaguchi Prefectures, both sides discussed and set out specific cooperation activities for the upcoming period. During the celebration, a discussion session on Net Zero and the new ecosystem took place; a memorandum of understanding was signed to enhance friendly cooperation, and a working document was established regarding the sending and receiving of personnel between the People's Committee of Binh Duong province and the authority of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Reported by Ngoc Thanh – Translated by Vi Bao