(MPI) - Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 19 for Director General of Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hayakawa Yoho.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong (right) and Director General of Southeast Asia and Pacific Department, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Hayakawa Yoho. Photo: MPI

Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong noted with pleasure the close cooperation relationship between the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and JICA, especially in 2023 Vietnam and Japan had elevated their relations to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World”, opening up a new chapter of a stronger and more extensive development that meet common interests of both sides.

Vietnam always attaches importance and strives to successfully implement projects funded by official development assistance (ODA) of Japan. Deputy Minister Phuong spoke highly of JICA’s close coordination with the Vietnamese agencies, especially with the MPI, to effectively deploy cooperation projects, affirming to further strengthen collaboration between the two agencies and contribute to fostering the Vietnam-Japan relations.

Yoho highly appreciated the impressive, strong, and comprehensive development of cooperative and friendly relations between Vietnam and Japan since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, and numerous important agreements, documents and projects between the two ministries, sectors, agencies and businesses have been signed recently.

Vietnam is expected to develop faster in the future and have more opportunities to effectively mobilise and use Japanese ODA, he added, and expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Government will have new legal policies to remove facing obstacles and complete procedures so as to effectively roll out investment projects.

JICA looked forward to stronger cooperation from the Vietnamese ministry since Japan always considers Vietnam the most important partner in the region, he noted.

The two sides took this occasion to exchange specific ideas to soon remove difficulties and promote the implementation of cooperation projects. They also agreed to work closely with relevant agencies, ministries and localities to identify potential projects, focusing on Vietnam-Japan University (VJU), the North - South expressway and such fields as energy, education, health, and agricultural and rural development in vulnerable areas./.

Bao Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment