Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced an official development assistance package valued at around 100 billion JPY (roughly 1 billion USD) for Viet Nam during the December 15 talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung.

The amount will be allocated to five projects in Viet Nam during the second half of the 2013 fiscal year.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo receives PM Nguyen Tan Dung

The projects include two sections of the North-South Highway, two infrastructure development projects at Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong city, and a programme to support Viet Nam in responding to climate change and enhance its competitiveness.

The Japanese side also promised to consider Viet Nam’s proposal to build a Viet Nam-Japan friendship hospital and expand the programme of training Vietnamese nurses in Japan . During the talks, PM Shinzo Abe affirmed that Japan sees Viet Nam as an important partner.

The two sides agreed on directions and a number of specific measures to further deepen the Viet Nam-Japan strategic partnership.

They expressed their delight at new progress in bilateral cooperation in all fields, while holding that practical activities in celebrating the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Year and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties have made significant contributions to the consolidation of friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

PM Dung said Viet Nam always treasures cooperation with Japan and wishes to boost the strategic partnership with the country in a more comprehensive way.

The two leaders agreed on the significance of the maintenance of high-level meetings as well as the effective implementation of cooperation mechanisms, while lauding the setting up of the security dialogue mechanism.

The two sides pledged to continue their close coordination in the implementation of important economic cooperation projects such as the North-South Highway, the construction of the Ninh Thuan No. 2 nuclear power plant and the Viet Nam Space Centre.

They committed to considering the possibility of signing a plan of action to realise agricultural cooperation between the two countries, including the establishment of a joint working group in the field.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Viet Nam will create all possible conditions for Japanese firms to invest in Viet Nam by effectively conducting the Viet Nam-Japan Joint Initiative in improving investment environment in Viet Nam.

He suggested that Japan pay more attention to the implementation of the underway Bach Dang bridge construction project.

Meanwhile, PM Shinzo Abe pledged to back Viet Nam in carrying out of action plans in six prioritised sectors included in the Viet Nam ’s industrialisation strategy and the Viet Nam-Japan cooperation framework by 2020 with a view to 2030.

Japan will also consider Viet Nam’s suggestion to create favourable condition for Vietnamese agricultural products to enter the Japanese market.

Both host and guest agreed that cooperation in human resources development is among key issues of the bilateral relationship, welcomed the initiative to establish the Viet Nam-Japan University in Ha Noi and consented to jointly facilitate the project’s early implementation.

PM Dung proposed both sides conduct research on the possibility to set up a long-term cooperation programme in education and training.

The two leaders also discussed international and regional issues of common concern.

They agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, stability and development in the region, including peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation based on international law.

They affirmed to continue closely working at international forums, organisations, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region.

After the talks, PMs Dung and Abe witnessed the signing of a diplomatic note of exchange for three projects in the 2013 fiscal year worth 54 billion JPY, namely the international terminal T2 of Noi Bai International Airport, the Da Nhim hydro-power plant and Hanoi’s belt road 3’s Mai Dich-Nam Thang Long section flyover.

At the joint press briefing, PM Dung thanked Japan for its ODA for Viet Nam and said that the two sides proposed some new cooperation contents, including the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship hospital project.

PM Abe congratulated the success of the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Year, affirming his country places importance to cooperating with Viet Nam, especially in economics, trade, investment and human resources training.

Japan is willing to assist Viet Nam in infrastructure development and human resources training, he said.

The same day, the Vietnamese leader concluded his four-day visit to Japan.

(Source: VNA)