PM Chinh calls for cross-sector cooperation with Japan in official visit

PM Pham Minh Chinh (L) holds the Japanese Unshu tangerines that will be exported to Vietnam soon at a meeting with former Japanese PM Suga Yoshihide (R) and Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro (C) in Japan, November 23, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Duong Giang

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam and Japan's relationship is at its best and the two need to boost cooperation in various fields including economy, medicine, and labor training.

Speaking to the Japanese press during his official visit to the country from Monday to Thursday, Chinh said the Vietnam - Japan relations are at the best stage of development despite challenges from Covid-19, according to a Tuesday statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to VN Express, he proposed the countries strongly promote cooperation in six areas.

The first is to continue focusing on economic cooperation during the pandemic, first on bilateral trade, creating favorable conditions for goods to enter each other's markets, thereby facilitating the resumption of production and trade. He also said Vietnam would create the most favorable conditions to attract investment and official development aid from Japan.

The second area raised by the PM is medical cooperation, especially the transfer of technology to produce Covid-19 drugs and vaccines and strengthening the capacity of frontline hospitals.

Next, he said, the countries should promote cooperation in education and training to improve human resource, science, and technology as well as cultural exchange.

The other three fields that can make use of Vietnam-Japan cooperation are culture-tourism, national defense – security, and coordination in regional and international issues, he said.

PM Chinh arrived in Tokyo on Monday for a visit as per the invitation from his counterpart Kishida Fumio.

Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973. Japan is one of Vietnam's foremost economic partners, biggest ODA contributor, second largest investor and fourth largest trade partner.

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