Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucthanked Japan for providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnamover the past 26 years, aiding the country’s effort to boost the economy,reduce poverty and develop infrastructure.

He made the remarks while receiving Kawamura Takeo,Chairperson of the Japanese House of Representatives’ Committee on Budget, whois on a visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on August 22.

Vietnam and Japan are enjoying booming relations in allfields with increasing high-level exchange and political trust, he said.

The PM described Japan as Vietnam’s top economic partneras it is the largest provider of ODA and the second biggest investor in Vietnam.The government of Vietnam highly appreciates Japanese ODA; and has put greatefforts into fulfilling commitments on ODA-funded projects agreed by the twocountries and making effective use of the ODA, he noted.

Phuc also spoke highly of the Vietnam – Japan University,a key project between the two countries, saying the Vietnamese government willprovide all possible conditions for the university’s operation.

To take the two countries’ strategic partnership to a newheight, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked his guest to back the expansion of thebilateral economic ties and FDI flow from Japan to Vietnam as well as support thecontinued provision of ODA to the Southeast Asian country, particularly inprojects in infrastructure, high-quality human resources training and responseto climate change.

He affirmed that his government has consistently workedto facilitate Japanese investors doing business in Vietnam.

The PM also suggested that the two countries continuefostering cooperation in education and workforce training. He welcomed thepilot implementation of Japan’s KOSEN vocational training model in Vietnam andproposed Japan to accept more Vietnamese trainees.

The two countries also need to accelerate exchangesbetween their people and localities, especially when they are celebrating the45th anniversary of the diplomatic ties this year, to deepen mutualunderstanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Kawamura Takeo, for his part, conveyed thanks from PrimeMinister Shinzo Abe to Vietnam for the support for the Japanese people at atime when they suffered from natural disasters recently.

He went on to say that the Japanese PM backed the view ofpromoting a close cooperation with Vietnam on bilateral and multilateralissues.

The Japanese House of Representative’s Committee onBudget looks forward to tightening partnership with Vietnam at large and theVietnamese National Assembly and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship ParliamentaryAlliance in particular, said Takeo, who also serves as Vice Chairman of theJapan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance.

He appreciated the Vietnamese government’s policy onfacilitating the Vietnam – Japan University’s operation, noting he is happy tosee Japanese language widely taught in Vietnam. He also unveiled that Japan isseeking more Vietnamese trainees.

Japan is looking forward to PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visitto Japan for the upcoming Mekong-Japan Summit, the Japanese parliamentariansaid.-VNA