Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Yutaka Banno met with Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem on February 14. Both sides agreed to boost the exchange of high-ranking visits and, raise the role of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee in the implementation of agreements reached between the two countries’ leaders, as well as strengthen ties between the two countries’ foreign ministries.

During the meeting, Deputy PM Khiem informed his guest of the outcomes of the 11th National Party Congress, saying Vietnam will continue its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, while actively pursuing international integration.

Vietnam is willing to be friend and become trustworthy partners of the international community, he said.

Deputy PM Khiem also spoke highly of the development of Vietnam-Japan relations, especially the achievements recorded since the official visit to Vietnam by Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in October last year.

He thanked the Japanese government for providing a record US$1.76 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the fiscal year of 2010.

Mr. Banno conveyed his New Year wishes to the Vietnamese Party and people and expressed wishes to further bolster strategic relations with Vietnam on the basis of mutual trust.

On February 14, the Japanese diplomat also met with Politburo Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office, Deputy Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Nguyen Manh Hung and Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son.