At a reception for a leader of Sojitz Corporation (Photo: VNA) Hiroshima (VNA) –Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received executivesof several major Japanese economic corporations in Hiroshima city, Japan, on May20 on the occasion of his attendance at the expanded Summit of the Group of Seven (G7).
At a reception for Yoshida Akio, Representative ExecutiveDirector of AEON Co. Ltd, PM Chinh highly valued the positive and effectivecontributions of AEON to the development of retail and export sectors inVietnam.
He suggested thatAEON select Vietnam as its global business hub and continue investing in more shoppingcentres and outlet malls in suburban areas. Furthermore, he encouraged AEON to invest in theconstruction of shopping centres in more cities and provinces with high average per capita income, dense population and tourism potential like QuangNinh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, the Central Highlands, KhanhHoa, and An Giang.
The PM also proposedAEON bring more Vietnamese goods to the global supply chain, especiallygoods of Vietnam’s strength such as apparel, footwear, aquatic and agriculturalproducts.
Yoshida, for hispart, said Vietnam is the biggest investment destination for AEON globally,with over 1.18 billion USD invested. AEON has opened six shopping centres inmajor Vietnamese cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, HaiPhong, Thua Thien Hue, and more.
Agreeing with PM Chinh’s proposals, Yoshida affirmed that in the coming time,AEON will develop about 20 shopping centres in Vietnam, focusing on supermarketand entertainment facilities. It will also expand the import of Vietnamesegoods for distribution in over 20,000 shopping centres in Japan while offeringscholarships to Vietnam for human resources training, as proposed by the Vietnameseleader.
In the morning the same day, PM Chinh helda working session with Prof. Ochi Mitsuo, President of Hiroshima University; Kazuhisa Matsumoko, CEO of SatakeCorporation; Yamasaka Tetsuro, Chairman of Balcom Corporation; and leaders ofseven businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan.
He praised theinitiatives put forth by Hiroshima University and the businesses from the centraland southern regions of Japan to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in variousareas in the coming time, especially in agriculture, education and training,human resources development, digital transformation, green transition, climatechange adaptation, knowledge economy, circular economy, and private hospitals. ThePM wished that Hiroshima University would study the establishment of training facilities and branches in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese leaderasked firms from the central and southern regions of Japan to work closely withthe Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, ministriesand agencies to materialise their plans.
The Vietnamese Government is committed to providing supportand creating favourable conditions for Japanese enterprises, and businessesfrom the central and southern regions of Japan in particular while doingbusiness in Vietnam, he said.
🏅 In a separate meeting with Hamamoto Hirotaka, President & CEO of Mitsui Oil Exploration Co.,Ltd, PM Chinh hailed the corporation to pursuing the project on natural gas exploitation at Block B for many years, and expressed hope thatthe natural gas from Block B would soon serve Vietnam's O Mon thermal powerplants. He suggested Mitsui continue cooperating with and investing in Vietnam,especially in the development of green and clean energy that align with globaltrends and contribute to Vietnam's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
At the event (Photo: VNA) 
