HCM City (VNA)♌ – Ho Chi Minh City places great importance on its comprehensive partnership with Japan and is eager to further enhance cooperation in the years ahead, said Nguyen Thanh Nghi, member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee.

During a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki on February 17, Nghi highlighted that Vietnam-Japan relations are currently at their strongest in five decades. This strength is evident in the dynamic and substantive exchanges between the two countries across multiple fields, including politics, economics, trade, investment, culture, education, and healthcare. Japan is currently HCM City's fifth-largest trading partner, third-largest export market, and third-biggest investor. The city aims to deepen cooperation with Japan in key areas such as sustainable urban development, emissions reduction, climate change adaptation, innovation, digital transformation, supply chain resilience, supporting industries, healthcare, tourism, culture, workforce development, and people-to-people exchanges. Japan's official development assistance (ODA) remains a vital resource for the city’s infrastructure development. In 2024, ODA-funded projects made significant progress, most notably the successful launch of Metro Line No.1, a milestone widely welcomed by local residents. Efforts are underway to resolve outstanding issues related to Metro Line No.1, ensuring swift resolution of emerging challenges while protecting contractors' rights in accordance with legal regulations and contractual agreements, Nghi noted. Ambassador Ito expressed his strong support for deepening cooperation in culture, healthcare, people-to-people exchanges, tourism, digital transformation, and sustainable urban development. He praised the improving business climate in the southern metropolis, forecasting greater Japanese investment inflows. He also expressed his hope for continued support from the city’s authorities in facilitating ongoing projects and encouraging further Japanese business expansion in the local market./.