At a reception in Hanoi on October 25, the Deputy PM praised the newspaper’s cooperation with Vietnamese agencies in co-organising the 16^th World Police Music Festival in Hanoi.

He talked about Japan’s assistance to Vietnam in constructing a nuclear power plant, exploiting natural resources, attracting investment from Japanese businesses, training high quality human resources and issuing solutions to settle disputes over territorial waters.

Mr Phuc said Vietnam is a strategic partner of Japan and the effective cooperation between the two countries will serve as an important foundation for strengthening bilateral ties.

He said the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster caused by the recent tsunami and earth quakes in Japan does not change Vietnam’s policy in developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Vietnam always treasures and effectively uses the official development assistance (ODA) provided by Japan which has more than 1,600 Japanese businesses operating in the country.

The Deputy PM said Vietnam always encourages foreign businesses to invest in the country but they should also carefully consider the relationship between employers and employees.

Regarding Vietnam’s negotiation efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Mr Phuc said the country is working steadily towards minimizing negative effects on its agriculture and farmers, who are most vulnerable in the process of international integration.

Vietnam always treasures peace and friendship with other countries, especially its neighbours, therefore the sea-related issues should be settled peacefully and equally in line with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the countries’ declaration in this connection, he said.