At a reception for Deputy Foreign Minister Koro Bessho in Hanoi on Thursday, Mr. Khiem said the outcomes of the dialogue contributed to strengthening bilateral ties in all aspects and maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large, he said.

The Deputy PM appreciated new steps of development in the two countries’ ties, especially the Vietnam-Japan joint statement on the comprehensive development of a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia, during Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s visit to Vietnam in October.

Deputy Minister Koro Bessho affirmed that Japan wished to strengthen its strategic partnership with Vietnam and reiterated that Vietnam was Japan’s top partner in its ODA policy.

Japan also encouraged businesses to increase investment into Vietnam, he said.

The Japanese diplomat spoke highly of the result of the dialogue and expressed his admiration of Vietnam’s progress in economic development as well as the successful organisation of the recent ASEAN Summit and related summits in Hanoi.

Earlier the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and his Japanese counterpart Koro Bessho exchanged views on Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership, each country’s policies on external affairs, security and national defence as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

Both sides agreed that in the context of rapid regional and international changes, the two countries should increase cooperation in regional and international forums.

They also agreed that the next dialogue will be held in Tokyo in 2011.