Addressing the function, Ambassador Yasuaki Janizaki and Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment, Vo Hong Phuc expressed their pleasure at developments in the bilateral cooperation, particularly the fact that their leaders recently agreed to lift bilateral relations to strategic partnership status.

Vietnam-Japan cooperation has been expanded from the economy to other areas, they said.
In 2010, Vietnam chose Japan as its investor for a number of strategic projects, they said, hoping these will be future symbols of bilateral ties.

Japan - Vietnam’s largest bilateral aid provider- also pledged US$1.76 billion in official assistance to Vietnam. 

Attendees at the birthday banquet toasted the Emperor’s health and the unceasing development of the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership, for peace, cooperation and stability in the region and the world.