Mr. Sang, who is also a permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam, told Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan at a meeting on June 2.

He expressed his deep sympathy with the losses caused by the March earthquake and tsunami and said he believes the Japanese people will soon overcome the difficulties.

Mr. Sang was delighted at the development of the two countries’ relationship, adding that both sides should make greater efforts to make it a cooperation model in the region and the world.

He proposed Vietnam and Japan continue their cooperative projects which were signed in October 2010.

Vietnam hopes the bilateral trade turnover will be doubled in ten years and wants Japan to recognize its full market economy, Mr. Sang said.

For his part, PM Kan thanked the Vietnamese government and people for their spiritual and material support to the victims of the earthquakes and tsunami.

He also expressed hope that the Japan-Vietnam strategic partnership will continue to grow and flourish in the future.

** At a meeting with Kazuo Shii, the Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) the same day, Mr. Sang affirmed Vietnam’s plan to continue to boost cooperation with communist parties and political parties around the world, particularly the JCP. 

Chairman Shii recalled his talks with former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in 2007, during which they agreed to bring bilateral ties to a new height.

** At his meeting with Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Mr. Sang stressed that Vietnam is willing to do its utmost to help Japan. 

Minister Noda said Japan will continue to provide ODA for Vietnam as committed, and is willing to help Vietnam complete infrastructural facilities and improve human resource training. 

** While meeting with Chairwoman of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sadako Ogata, the Politburo member thanked the agency for cooperating with Vietnam in implementing projects in many sectors. 

Vietnam has used Japan’s ODA effectively to improve infrastructure and human resource training, he said, asking JICA to cooperate more closely with Vietnam in training human resource and setting up vocational schools.