Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung has stated that the Japanvisit by President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse from May 29 – June 2 has beensuccessful with diverse activities.

Duringan interview granted to the press, Trung said the Emperor, Empress, royal family,and government of Japan welcomed President Quang and his spouse, the only Stateguests this year, in the highest rituals to a head of State with all respect.

Duringthe stay, the Vietnamese President held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,issued the Vietnam – Japan Joint Statement, met with Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives and Speaker of the House of Councillors.

Healso met leaders of Japanese political parties, held dialogues with Japaneseeconomic organisations, and delivered a speech at the investment promotionconference with over 700 firms taking part.

Theleader visited Gunman prefecture and attended a banquet celebrating the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties with the participation of theEmperor and Empress.

Duringtalks and meetings, both sides issued a joint statement that defines majororientations for bilateral ties in the new development period.

Theysigned and exchanged four cooperation agreements in the fields of environment,construction and training, 17 investment licenses and cooperation deals betweenbusinesses and localities in aviation, retail, agriculture, informationtechnology, energy, support industry worth nearly 2 billion USD.

Aboutoutstanding outcomes of the visit, Trung said the visit has strengthened highpolitical trust, tightened close ties with the Japanese royal, government,parliament, political and economic circles.

EmperorAkihito, PM Abe, leaders of parliament, politicians and economists affirmed thatthey consider Vietnam an important partner in their country’s policy towardsthe region. They expressed readiness to cooperate for the sustainable developmentof Vietnam.

Thetwo countries’ leaders vowed to push the bilateral extensive strategicpartnership into a new development period, and maintain regular exchanges withhigh-level leaders.

Theyagreed to intensify exchanges between the two ruling Parties and legislatures,reinforce cooperation in national defence-security and maritime security, anddefence technology and equipment.

TheJapanese side vowed to continue assisting Vietnam in improving the capacity oflegal enforcement at sea, search and rescue, peacekeeping mission, overcomingwar consequences via war landmine clearance and provide support for Vietnamesevictims of bombs, mines and dioxin.

Theypromised to step up joint work in human resources development,science-technology, environment, health care, education, culture andlocality-to-locality cooperation.

Thetwo sides committed to launching negotiations on the agreement on judicialassistance in criminal matters and the agreement on the transfer of sentencedpersons.

Vowingto support Vietnam in administrative reform, Japan announced officialdevelopment assistance worth nearly 150 million USD to improve vocationaltraining capacity, and pledged to step up people-to-people exchange viawelcoming more Vietnamese graduates and high-quality workers.

Inorder to double 2014’s two-way trade value by 2020, the two nations willimprove the efficiency of economic cooperation mechanisms and make it easierfor Japanese oranges and Vietnamese litchis and longans to enter each other’smarket.

Japaneseeconomists spoke highly of Vietnam’s political stability, socio-economicperformance, investment environment and human resources.

Theyhighlighted that Vietnam is an attractive business destination in ASEAN, andconsidered Vietnam a trustworthy and promising partner of Japan. They addedthat 70 percent of Japanese firms operating in Vietnam want to expand and do long-termbusiness, invest in the equitisation of State-owned enterprises, buildinfrastructure, and partner in energy, high-tech agriculture and building anautomated society.

Hostsand guest vowed to offer mutual liaison at regional and global forums forpeace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Theyattached importance to facilitating trade freedom and promoting the enactmentof the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership,and expressed support for peace, stability and denuclearisation on the KoreanPeninsula.

Leadersalso declared mutual support for each other to run for a non-permanent member ofthe United Nations Security Council, with Vietnam for the 2020-2021 tenure andJapan for the 2023-2024 tenure.

Speakinghighly of Vietnam’s role in the region, Japan affirmed support to Vietnam’sstance on the East Sea issue.

Inconclusion, Trung believed that 2018 will start a new, effective and practicaldevelopment period of the Vietnam – Japan extensive strategic partnership.-VNA