Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam treasures its strategic partnership with Japan and considers Japanan important and long-term partner, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

PM Phuc made theremark while receiving Fumio Kishida, Chairman of the Policy Research Councilof the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan, in Hanoi on May 4.

The PM stressedthat since its inception 45 years ago, Vietnam-Japan relations have recordedcomprehensive, strong and practical growth in all fields, while political trustbetween the two nations stays at high level.

He thanked Kishidafor his contributions to the bilateral ties when he worked as Foreign Ministerand Secretary-General of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance,expecting that Kishida will continue his support to the bilateral cooperation.

For his part,the Japanese official said he was happy to see that Japan has become a leadingforeign investor in Vietnam again with a record number of over 1,700 businessesinvesting in the Southeast Asian country.

PraisingVietnam’s economic growth of 6.81 percent last year, he said Japan wants tocontribute to the country’s infrastructure development, including urban railwayprojects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Japanesecompanies are very interested in the Vietnamese market, Kishida said, addingthat Vietnam and Japan should strengthen their cooperation in regional andinternational matters.

PM Phuc said theroom for bilateral collaboration remains large, suggesting the countries enhancepolitical trust by increasing the exchange of delegations, particularly high-leveldelegations, and deepening ties between their parties and parliaments.

He suggested thetwo sides coordinate in organizing activities to celebrate the 45th founding of diplomatic ties in 2018, and increase people-to-people and culturalexchanges between their localities to boost mutual understanding.

Having thankedJapan for its effective support to the Vietnamese economy via its officialdevelopment assistance (ODA), PM Phuc said Vietnam attaches importance to thefunds and spares no efforts to carry out its ODA commitments with Japan.

He went on tosay that Vietnam wants to continue using Japanese ODA in building major infrastructureprojects and training human resources in response to climate change.

The governmentleader hoped that Japan will maintain its position as the top foreign investor,and invest more in the local supporting industry, new energy,  processing industry, and high-techagriculture.

The PMrecommended the two countries push up bilateral trade, and asked the Japaneseside to assist Vietnam in improving the quality of goods and logisticsservices, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese fruits and aquaticproducts to enter the Japanese market.

PM Phuc andKishida also spent time discussing the maintenance of security, peace andstability in the region.-VNA