Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung calledfor more assistance from Japan in maritime research and environmentalprotection while receiving Fukui Teru, Japanese Minister of State for OceanPolicy and head of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance’s Office,in Hanoi on September 4.

Dung showed his delight at the comprehensive and practical growth of theVietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership in all fields with high politicaltrust that benefits people of both countries.

Japan is now a leading economic partner of Vietnam, ranking first interms of official development assistance (ODA) provision, second in terms ofinvestment, third in terms of tourism and fourth in terms of trade, he noted.

The bilateral cooperation in agriculture and human resource training hasbecome more effective, while exchanges in culture and between localities aswell as people of both countries have been promoted, helping to foster mutualunderstanding between the Vietnamese and Japanese people, the Deputy PM said.

He said that maritime cooperation between the two nations has also beenstrengthened over the past years, noting that Japan has assisted Vietnam in studying,exploiting and using maritime resources and environment in a sustainablemanner.

Japan has also shared experience with and transfer technology toVietnam, while helping improve the capacity of Vietnamese officials in thefields of maritime science and technology, maritime economic development andenvironmental protection, and assisting Vietnam in enhancing law enforcementcapacity at sea, said Dung.

He proposed that in the future, Japan will continue working closely withand supporting Vietnam in the area of environment, especially the seaenvironment. Vietnam hopes for Japan’s help in improving its capacity inforecasting, thus giving timely response to natural disasters, climate changeand sea level rise, along with the provision of equipment, technology andpersonnel training for maritime resources and environmental research, Dung said.

The Deputy PM also called for Japan’s collaboration in implementingVietnam’s initiative in setting up regional marine partnerships on East Asiaseas in plastic waste management.

Vietnam needs assistance from Japan in management experience, maritimeand coastal waste collection and treatment technology, and preventing invasivealien species and eco-diversity degradation at sea, he said.

For his part, Fukui Teru said that the strategic partnership between thetwo countries is developing in a positive, diverse and practical manner in manyspheres with different forms.

The Japanese Government pays special attention to fostering cooperationwith Vietnam, especially in maritime research, he said, affirming that Japan iswilling to share information and experience in ocean policy with Vietnam sothat both countries could become sea-based rich nations.

He proposed that Vietnam, as coordinator of Japan-ASEAN relations, makemore contributions to fostering collaboration among the nations in the settlementof plastic waste in the ocean.-VNA