They all spoke highly of the fine development of the friendly and cooperative ties between Vietnam and Japan. They said that the Vietnam visit in February 2009 by the Crown Prince Naruhito and the Japan visit in April 2009 by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh were of great significance for bilateral ties, helping to elevate their strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

The government and people of Vietnam attach great importance to developing the friendly and cooperative ties with Japan, said Mr Dung.

He thanked the Diet, government and people of Japan for providing effective assistance to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, including the sharing of experience in legislation.

He appreciated Japan’s move to increase ODA capital to Vietnam in the context of the global economic recession and affirmed that Vietnam will work closely with Japan to implement its ODA funded projects effectively.   

He proposed that the Japanese Diet early consider ratifying the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VPEPA) to create a favourable, equitable and fair environment in bilateral economic ties.

The two Japanese parliamentary leaders said that they will do their best to encourage the Diet to complete procedures for ratification. They voiced their support for Vietnam’s development process and hoped that the relationship between the two countries would continue to develop in future.

They praised Vietnam’s role in the region and said that Japan consider the Southeast Asian nation as one of its important and reliable trading partners in Asia.

Mr Dung and the two Japanese leaders expressed their pleasure at the frequent exchange of visits between the two legislative bodies. They lauded the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarian Group and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Alliance for their constant efforts and contributions to strengthening ties between the two countries and the two legislative bodies.