In a meeting with newly-elected Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Mr Triet noted that Japan is Vietnam’s leading partner in many areas and that Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting the strategic partnership with Japan for peace and prosperity in Asia.

He thanked the Japanese government and people for providing valuable assistance, especially official development assistance (ODA), to Vietnam’s Renewal and international integration process.

He voiced Vietnam’s support for Japan’s bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) when the body is enlarged.

PM Hatoyama praised Vietnam’s development potential and promised that the new Japanese government will make every effort to boost cooperation with Vietnam in politics and economics as well as in other areas within the framework of their strategic partnership.

He said Japan will continue to push its key funded projects in Vietnam and to receive Vietnamese students wishing to study at Japanese universities.

The PM praised Vietnam’s measures to cushion the impact of the global economic recession and announced that the Japanese government will approve a US$500 million credit package to help Vietnam in this effort.

While meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fisher, Mr Triet said Vietnam and Austria should continue to work closely together and support each other at international forums, especially now that both are non-permanent members of the UNSC and Vietnam is poised to take over the chair of ASEAN next year.

Mr Triet proposed that Austria support Vietnam in negotiations on a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with the European Union, and lobby the European Commission to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

President Fisher lauded Vietnam’s efforts to achieve high economic growth despite the global financial crunch, and its expanding role in the region and the world. He expressed his belief that as a non-permanent member of the UNSC and the upcoming president of ASEAN, Vietnam will make a significant contribution to peace and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

Mr Triet also received Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s economic development and noted that Vietnam is playing an expanding role among developing economies. He said Venezuela wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam in oil and gas and other areas, including agriculture and industry.

The two leaders briefed each other on economic development in their respective countries and agreed to increase cooperation among the Non-Aligned Movement.

In a meeting with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, Mr Triet affirmed Vietnam’s determination to take the lead in implementing the One UN Initiative and proposed that UNDP assist Vietnam to implement its economic development programmes and realise other UN initiatives.

Ms Clark assured Mr Triet that UNDP will continue to support Vietnam’s development process and strengthen cooperation between UNDP and ASEAN when Vietnam will chair this regional organisation in 2010.

Mr Triet also had a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. PM Brown applauded Vietnam’s development achievements and expressed thanks for its cooperation at international forums.

In the evening, Mr Triet attended the fifth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which brought together many heads of State and senior leaders from non-governmental organisations, charity funds and economic groups. CGI made its debut in September 2005 on the initiative of former US President Bill Clinton.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, who accompanied Mr Triet to New York, held talks with Japanese FM Katsuya Okada, Brazilian FM Celso Amorim and Nepalese FM Sujata Koirala.

Mr Khiem and Estonian FM Urmas Paet signed an agreement on investment promotion and protection between the two countries.