The agreement was reached during talks in Tokyo on May 22 between Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung who is in Tokyo for the 15^th international conference on The Future of Asia held by Nikkei newspaper.

The two PMs expressed their pleasure at the positive development of the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan in such areas as politics, economics and culture. They agreed to constantly develop the bilateral relationship to meet the interests and aspirations of their people and for peace, stability and development in the region and the rest of the world.

PM Aso praised Vietnam’s solutions to cushion the impact of the global financial turbulence and maintain steady economic growth.

PM Dung thanked Japan for providing practical assistance to Vietnam’s economic development, national construction and international integration.

The two PMs discussed measures to specifically implement agreements in the Vietnam-Japan Joint Statement on the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia, which was announced during Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s official visit to Japan in April 2009.

Mr Dung asked Japan to help Vietnam effectively implement large-scale infrastructure projects, including those to build the North-South Highway and North-South Railway Line, the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park and improve urban transport infrastructure in Hanoi and HCM City.

Vietnam will do its utmost to effectively implement Japanese-funded ODA projects and will work closely with Japan to combat corruption, said Mr Dung.

For his part, PM Aso told Mr Dung that the Japanese Diet has begun to discuss and consider approving the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA). He said that his government will consider Vietnam’s proposal to allow the Southeast Asian nation to use part of its recently-approved emergency aid package for Asian countries to minimise the impact of the global economic recession.

Both host and guest agreed to establish a forum for dialogue and information exchanges on Vietnam’s market economic regulations while Japan is taking the recognition of Vietnam’s market economic status under consideration.

They asid that both countries should work closely to organise the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009, including the Japanese Festival 2009 in Hoi An city and the Mekong-Japan Cultural and Tourism Exchange Days in Can Tho City.

They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in regional and international forums and organisations of which the two countries are both membership.

PM Aso invited PM Dung to attend the first Mekong-Japan Summit to be held in Tokyo later this year. The invitation was accepted with pleasure.

PM Dung also invited PM Aso to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.