Last updated: 16:44 - October 20, 2006
Vietnam and Japan to forge strategic relations http://www.nhandan.com.vn/english/news/201006/domestic_pm.htm
PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.
Vietnam and Japan on October 19 agreed to forge strategic relations and launch talks on an economic and trade agreement early next year.
Visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at their bilateral talks in Tokyo on October 19 that Japan is Vietnam's number one partner both in development assistance and in trade and investment.
Prime Minister Dung said Japanese co-operation and assistance were very effective and made great contributions to Vietnam's economic achievements over recent years.
He proposed that the two sides continue holding regular dialogues between their leaders in different forms in order to strategically guide bilateral co-operation.
He also called upon the Japanese side to set up a Vietnam-Japan co-operation committee soon at ministerial level and increase its official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam.
Prime Minister Abe affirmed that Japan and Vietnam look forward to a strategic partnership for the sake of peace and stability in Asia, and the world as a whole.
He said Japan would continue to support Vietnam in its economic reform, hunger elimination and poverty reduction, and will encourage Japanese companies to invest in the country.
He proposed that the two countries will soon establish a Japan-Vietnam cultural exchange forum and expressed his support for the prompt implementation of infrastructure projects in Vietnam.
As for current situation in the Korean Peninsula, the two leaders expressed their objections to the nuclear test and urged the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) not to make further complications and to return immediately to the six-party talks.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister affirmed Vietnam's support for Japan's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, while the Japanese Prime Minister expressed Japan's support for Vietnam to become a non-permanent council member.
The two prime ministers also agreed to boost cultural, educational and tourism co-operation.
The two sides signed the "Japan-Vietnam Joint Statement Toward a Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" after the talks. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a banquet in honour of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on the evening of October 19. (VNA)
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