Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met the media after their talks.

Vietnam considers Japan as one of its top strategic partners while Japan wants to boost the strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida shared the view at the sixth meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee, which they co-chaired, as well as at their talks in Hanoi on August 1.

The two sides discussed and agreed on measures to boost bilateral ties in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable manner in the future by maintaining regular exchange of visits and meetings between the two countries’ senior leaders, promoting the role of existing dialogue mechanisms and intensifying connection between the two sides’ ministries and localities.

They reached a consensus on effectively implementing agreements signed by high-level officials, particularly major infrastructure projects such as the North-South Highway, Lach Huyen port in Hai Phong city, and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant.

Fumio Kishida affirmed that Japan continues considering Vietnam as a leading partner in official development assistance (ODA). T he Japanese Government continues maintaining a high level of ODA provision for Vietnam , focusing on supporting growth, enhancing competitiveness, improving market economy mechanism, training human resources and preventing natural disasters, he said.

Minh highly valued the Japan government’s commitment to maintaining the provision of its ODA at a high level for Vietnam , including the signing of a diplomatic note of exchange on a non-refundable aid worth 500 million JPY (4.86 million USD) to ensure maritime safety and a 353-million-JPY grant for a human resources development scholarship programme in 2014.

Minh reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to effectively use Japan’s ODA so as to further promote the socio-economic development.

Both sides also agreed to continue collaboration to improve investment environment in Vietnam , speed up public-private partnership model, and strengthen connection in trade, human resources training, science technology, climate change, culture and people-to-people exchange.

They noted with satisfaction over the growing agricultural cooperation between the two countries in recent times and examined ways to carry out a number of projects such as Bach Dang Bridge, Can Tho University, Vietnam – Japan University.

Minh thanked the Japanese Government for facilitating the grant of entry visa for Vietnamese citizens in recent years.

Fumio Kishida affirmed to continue assisting Vietnam in implementing its Industrialisation Strategy and the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative.

The two ministers agreed to intensify cooperation in regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Vietnam welcomes Japan’s active and constructive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, Minh stated.

Both also shared the view that that parties concerned should settle disputes in the East Sea through peaceful dialogues on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, abiding by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct.

The outcome of the sixth meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee and the talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida significantly contributed to further strengthening extensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

VNA