The PM made the pledge in Tokyo on November 6 while receiving the leaders of several leading economic groups, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) and Mitsubishi.

Mr Dung, who arrived in Tokyo the same day for the Mekong-Japan summit, said both countries have signed the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, paving the way for Japanese businesses to invest in Vietnam.

He noted that the two countries are now working on the third phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative to improve Vietnam’s investment environment.

He praised the groups’ contribution to bilateral economic cooperation and urged the groups to continue expanding investment in Vietnam. 

The executives said Japanese businesses want to increase cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the areas of automobiles, steel, cement, oil and gas, chemicals and mining.

They said they will act as a bridge to promote cooperation in economics, trade and investment, as well as in culture, education-training, and science-technology.

JBIC President Hiroshi Watanabe told Mr Dung that JBIC will work closely with the Vietnam Development Bank to develop commercial loans, guarantee Vietnamese government bonds issued in Tokyo, and fund environment and energy projects.

The same day, Mr Dung received Vietnam-Japan special ambassador Sugi Ryotaro and President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomu.

Mr Dung acknowledged ambassador Ryotaro’s role in promoting the two countries’ friendship, especially in lobbying Japan to resume its official development assistance to Vietnam and in organising activities to mark the 35^th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam--Japan diplomatic ties.

He expressed his hope that the ambassador will continue to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

He welcomed the ambassador’s plans to organise a film festival and a Japan-Vietnam goods exhibition in Vietnam to mark the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2013. He proposed that the ambassador seek funding for operations on Vietnamese children with harelips and cleft palates.

At another reception for the President of the Japan-Vietnam friendship alliance, Takebe Tsutomu, Mr Dung said that Vietnam is keen on expanding cooperation with Japan and developing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

He said he hopes the alliance will continue to support and cooperate with Vietnam in investing in infrastructure construction, developing human resources and addressing climate change.