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| Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh receives a delegation led by Vice Governor of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture Shimo Hiroshi. (Photo: VGP) |
He made the statement in a reception for Vice Governor of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture Shimo Hiroshi, in Hanoi on October 6.
During the reception, he highlighted that the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is in prime time with high political trust despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and underlined that Japan has been a leading important economic partner of Vietnam.
According to the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Japan continues to be Vietnam's leading economic partner. Cooperation in economy, trade, investment, labor, education and training of human resources has been enhanced and has achieved many positive results.
Cooperation between localities is deepening. In the pre-COVID-19 period, on average, every year, Vietnam welcomed about 10 Japanese governors' delegations to promote cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, branches and localities.
He suggested that in the coming time, Wakayama Prefecture will continue to effectively implement signed agreements with Vietnam; establish partnership with more Vietnamese localities; encourage local businesses to invest more in Vietnam, especially in hi-tech agriculture, production and processing of agricultural, forestry and fishery products; strengthen cooperation in personnel training; and expand the reception of Vietnamese practitioners and labourers to work in the prefecture.
Vice Governor of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture Shimo Hiroshi said the purpose of this visit to Vietnam is to promote trade connectivity and labor cooperation between Wakayam and Vietnam.
He added that the prefecture is implementing an agricultural and fisheries cooperation agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and a deal in the field of industry with the Ministry of Industry and Trade; strengthening people-to-people exchange with Vietnam, including a “lotus” exchange programme between Kinokawa city and Quang Nam province, which was initiated by the Chairman of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, aiming to make lotus a symbol of spiritual connection between Vietnamese and Japanese people
Wakayama Prefecture is contributing to the formation of a Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in the locality and Mr. Shimo Hiroshi will be the first chairperson of the association, he added./.