PM encourages cooperation between Vietnamese localities and Yamaguchi Prefecture

Chinh noted with satisfaction the strong, effective, and substantive development of the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all areas in recent times, saying Japan continues to be Vietnam’s leading economic partner, a key provider of ODA, the first labour cooperation partner, the third largest investor, and the fourth largest trade and tourism partner.

Local exchanges and cooperation activities have been increasingly vibrant, with over 100 documents signed to establish friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnamese and Japanese localities. The Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Japan now stands at around 600,000, making it the second largest foreign community in the country.

In such a context, the PM highly appreciated the extensive and effective cooperation results between Yamaguchi and Binh Duong over the past 10 years. Yamaguchi is also a land of great people and historical significance, the hometown of many Japanese Prime Ministers, especially the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who made significant and active contributions to the development of Vietnam-Japan relations.

To further deepen and expand the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the PM suggested that Yamaguchi enhance cooperation with Binh Duong and other localities in Vietnam in the areas of economy, trade, and investment, while encouraging its businesses to expand their investments in Vietnam. He also urged the Japanese locality to increase the import of goods, especially key products from Vietnam.

According to the PM, Vietnam is currently focusing on three strategic breakthroughs in institutional reform, infrastructure, and human resources to reduce compliance costs, logistics costs, and travel costs for people and businesses, while improving labor productivity and the competitiveness of goods. He requested Japan’s continued support for Vietnam in implementing these breakthroughs and further promoting cultural exchanges, labour cooperation, high-quality human resource training, and collaboration on responding to the aging population.

He also requested that Yamaguchi continue to create favourable conditions for the more than 4,000 Vietnamese people living, studying, and working in the locality, to help improve their lives, enhance their skills and vocational qualifications, and integrate into local society.

Muraoka for his part briefed his host on the outcomes of the working visit to Vietnam and expressed his pleasure at the progress made in bilateral relations.

Recognizing Vietnam as a country with increasing influence on the international stage, the Governor noted that many companies of Yamaguchi highly value cooperation with Vietnam. The businesses accompanying him will explore cooperation opportunities in Binh Duong, contributing to strengthening and enhancing the Vietnam-Japan relationship in the future.

He also said Yamaguchi would further promote labour training cooperation, hoping to welcome more Vietnamese nationals to come and work in the locality. He expressed his desire for both sides to strengthen trade cooperation, particularly in the export and import of specialty products.