• Vietnam respects relationship with Japan

Vice Chairman of the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Cuu made this affirmation at a reception for Japanese Prince Akishino on August 18.

Cuu also introduced the Prince to the socio-economic situation in the province, which is home to many ethnic minority groups and contains abundant natural resources. He added that five Japanese agricultural, forestry product processing and electronics businesses are now operating effectively in the province.

He thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its assistance in building a general hospital and for sponsoring many other development projects in rural and mountainous areas.

Prince Akishino spent a lot of time learning the local people’s living conditions and issues related to education and health care.

He said he hopes that the province will create the best possible conditions for his delegation to learn more about environmental protection and the conservation of bio-diversity.

The Prince also thanked Hoa Binh province for its assistance during last year's tsunami and earthquake disasters in Japan.