Hanoi (VNA)– The 4th meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Committee onCooperation in Industry, Trade and Energy was held in Hanoi on August 7 in theform of video conferencing.

The meeting wasco-chaired by Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh andJapanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry KajiyamaHiroshi.

Theministers rejoiced at cooperation outcomes between the two sides since the 3rd meeting, especially collaboration within the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP), as well as cooperation in energy, automobile and chemical industries and industrial workforcetraining.

Theyreiterated the significance of the joint committee in removing difficulties forbusinesses and promoting cooperation between the two countries, particularly inthe context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Theyshared the view that Vietnam-Japan cooperation in trade, industry and energyshould go with targets set in the ASEAN-Japan Economic Ministers’ JointStatement on Initiatives on Economic Resilience in Response to the CoronavirusDisease, and the ASEAN-Japan Economic Resilience Action Plan.

Hiroshi lauded the leadership of Vietnam as ASEAN Chair 2020, and committed tofurther coordination with the country.

Thetwo ministers highlighted diversity, transparency, and sustainability inbuilding a firm supply chain in the industrial sector.

Anhsaid the Vietnamese Government pledges to perfect the investment environment inthe time ahead to facilitate the operation of foreign investors in general andthose from Japan in particular.

Heappreciated Japan’s technical assistance in personnel development in theindustrial sector over the past years.

Theminister expressed his delight at projects in Vietnam included in Japan’sinitiative on personnel development in the sphere of auto control software inASEAN, to be rolled out for the first time this year.

Hesuggested applying Japan’s KOSEN model in personnel development in trainingfacilities of the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade in order to improvecapacity and create more added values for a number of key industries in Vietnamlike chemicals, garment-textile, auto and supporting industries.

Bothministers pledged to make efforts for a free, fair, transparent, stable andforeseeable trade and investment environment in Asia-Pacific.

Theyreiterated commitments to promoting economic integration in Asia-Pacific, and agreedto support each other and closely coordinate at multilateral economic and tradecooperation frameworks of which the two countries are members.

Theyalso discussed other issues like digital transformation, the fourth IndustrialRevolution and the free flow of data with trust.

Inthe field of energy, they said the Nghi Son oil refinery is significant to bothsides, and suggested the Vietnamese and Japanese governments facilitate theimplementation of the project.

Itis necessary to diversify energy resources, step up oil and gas cooperation andpromote energy-related policies to meet the increasing demand for energy, theysaid.

Thetwo countries will also foster collaboration in addressing global challengeslike climate change, while mobilising financial resources, including privateinvestment, for energy infrastructure projects and projects on free andcompetitive energy market development in Indo-Pacific through multilateralframeworks./.