Mr Triet said Vietnam attaches great importance to developing ties with Japan and Slovakia and appreciates the two countries’ support and assistance for Vietnam during the past years.

The State leader thanked Japan for providing Vietnam with ODA which has positively helped the country boost socio-economic development and expressed his appreciation for Japan’s positive role in cooperation between Japan and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS). He voiced his support for Japan’s initiative in organising the GMS-Japan Summit slated for Japan later this year.

On the occasion, Mr Triet invited Japanese Emperor and Empress to pay an official visit to Vietnam.

For Slovakia, Mr Triet said Vietnam is accelerating the opening of its embassy in Bratislava to create favourable condition for Slovakian businesses to expand cooperation and investment in Vietnam. The State leader thanked the Slovakian Government for creating good conditions for Vietnamese living and studying in their country thus further tightening the friendship between people of both countries.

The two Japanese and Slovakian Foreign Ministers said that Vietnam’s hosting of the ninth Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM9) demonstrates its rising prestige and position in the international arena.

The Japanese diplomat praised Vietnam’s role in the United Nations Security Council, express his wish to cooperate with Vietnam in the UN reform process and its point of view on nuclear issues on the Korean peninsular.

Mr Hirofumi said his country will help Vietnam to successfully organise the Japanese Festival to be held in Hoi An in August and the Mekong-Japan Cultural and Tourism Day in Can Tho.

For his part, the Slovakian diplomat pledged to assist Vietnam to resolve differences with the European Union.

Slovakia is actively preparing for President Nguyen Minh Triet’s State-level visit to the country scheduled for December.