Tokyo (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on Japaneselocalities to further promote trade economic, trade and tourism cooperationwith Vietnam, especially in agriculture, support industry, informationtechnology, and tourism.

During his separate meetings in Tokyo on July 1 with officials from Chiba and Tochigiprefectures, which have trade and investment activities, and culture exchangewith Vietnam, PM Phuc stressed the relationship between localities of the twocountries is an effective channel to make  their cooperation more effective and practical.

Talking to PM Phuc, Governor of Chiba Morita Kensaku said that he recentlyvisited Vietnam and signed cooperation documents with Vietnamese authorities inthe field of nursing, and that the Japanese locality sent business delegationsto Vietnam to seek investment and cooperation opportunities in the SoutheastAsian nation.

PM Phuc suggested Chiba to promote trade and investment bond with Vietnam, andclosely work with the Vietnamese side to effectively implement the agreement onlabour cooperation that signed in March 2019, towards ensuring rights andinterest of labourers.

He expressed his hope that Chiba authorities will continue to support thecommunity of 15,000 Vietnamese expats in the prefecture.

Meeting with Wantanabe Michitaro, Mayor of Nasushiobara city of Tochigiprefecture, PM Phuc emphasised that good outcomes of the Vietnam-JapanExtensive Strategic Partnership is due to
constant efforts of the two governments and peoples over the years.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese people always appreciate contributions of late JapaneseDeputy PM and Japanese Foreign Minister Watanabe Michio and member of theJapanese Lower House Watanabe Yoshimi, who are the grandfather and father ofMayor Wantanabe Michitaro, in promoting the Vietnam-Japan relations.

For his part, Mayor Wantanabe Michitaro said Nasushiobara city is strong infood, agricultural products, agriculture production, and wants to enhancing cooperationwith Vietnam.

PMPhuc proposed Nasushiobara city to further expand economic and tradecooperation and exchange with Vietnamese localities, contributing tostrengthening mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially inhi-tech agriculture and tourism.

He said he believes that Mayor Wantanabe Michitaro will continue to contributeto promoting cooperation and exchange between Vietnam and Japan in general andbetween Nasushiobara city as well as Tochigi prefecture and Vietnameselocalities in particular.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Phuc received Norio Hattori, former Japaneseambassador to Vietnam.-VNA