(MPI) – On March 27, 3, the Ministry of Planning and Investment coordinated with the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnam - Japan Economic Committee under the Federation of Japanese Economic Organizations (Keidanren ) held a kick-off meeting for the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative in the new era, phase 2024. Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and co-chairs of the Japan - Vietnam Economic Committee, Mr. Masayuki Hyodo and Mr. Fujimoto Masayoshi chaired the meeting.
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| Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the New Era, phase 1. Photo: MPI |
The Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative is a practical and effective policy dialogue framework between the Japanese business community and Vietnamese ministries and branches, initiated in 2003 and spanning more than 20 years with 8 stages. , making an important contribution to building policies, improving Vietnam's investment environment and promoting investment capital and technology from Japan into Vietnam in particular, and from countries around the world into Vietnam. Generally speaking.
Based on the Joint Declaration on upgrading Vietnam - Japan relations to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world", the two sides agreed to implement the next phase. under the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative with the name "Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative in the new era, phase 1".
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| Minister Nguyen Chi Dung spoke at the Kick-off Meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the New Era, Phase 1. Photo: MPI |
Reviewing some highlights of Vietnam's economy in 2023, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that up to now the macroeconomy has been maintained stable; Inflation is controlled, averaging 3,25%; Great balances are guaranteed; Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5,05%.
Socio-economic infrastructure has been invested and developed strongly, especially transport infrastructure; The national innovation startup ecosystem is thriving. In particular, attracting foreign investment (FDI) reached nearly 36,6 billion USD, an increase of 32,1% compared to 2022; Realized FDI capital reached 23,2 billion USD, the highest ever. In the first 02 months of 2024 alone, registered investment capital reached 4,29 billion USD, an increase of 38,6 over the same period last year.
These important achievements were achieved thanks to the drastic direction and management of the Government and the Prime Minister, the close coordination and responsibility of all levels, branches and localities, as well as the companionship of all levels. of the domestic and foreign business community, along with the support of international friends, the Minister emphasized.
After 50 years of cultivation and development, Vietnam - Japan relations have continuously been consolidated and developed comprehensively in all fields, especially in economic - investment - trade cooperation. To date, Japan is Vietnam's No. 1 development assistance (ODA) partner, No. 2 in labor cooperation, No. 3 in investment and No. 4 in trade.
In the first 02 months of 2024 alone, Japan's total registered capital reached 422,4 million USD, an increase of 290% over the same period. This is a very positive sign that Japanese investors still consider Vietnam an attractive and safe investment destination.
Minister Nguyen Chi Dung expressed his hope that Japanese investors will continue to further strengthen economic cooperation and investment in new strategic fields between the two countries. At the same time, maintain and promote ODA cooperation for the benefit of both sides as set out in the Joint Declaration between the two countries, including the following areas: Promoting cooperation to ensure economic security, Human resource training High quality, Innovation, Technology transfer, Digital transformation, Green transformation, Strategic infrastructure, Climate change prevention and Health,...
In the first phase of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the new era, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung proposed that both sides will coordinate closely to build and implement the tasks of the Joint Initiative associated with specific outputs; closely follow and go hand in hand with strategic tasks, programs, and content consistent with current trends to achieve the goals set out by Vietnam in strategies and plans such as the Economic Development Plan. socio-economic 10 years 2021-2030; Green growth strategy; Industrialization strategy; National digital transformation program; Supporting industry development program…
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| Co-Chairman of the Vietnam - Japan Economic Committee Fujimoto Masayohi spoke. Photo: MPI. |
Mr. Fujimoto Masayohi, Co-Chairman of the Vietnam - Japan Economic Committee, thanked the Government and Vietnamese agencies for seriously listening to the opinions and contributions of Japanese businesses and implementing many solutions to improve the situation. Improve the investment environment to become more and more attractive. This has made Japanese businesses feel secure and have active business and investment activities in Vietnam.
To fully promote the strong, comprehensive, and substantive development in all areas of the two countries' relations, Mr. Fujimoto Masayoshi said that the two sides need to continue to have economic cooperation and development activities and innovation. The joint Vietnam-Japan initiative in the new era will be an important factor to promote the added value of industries.
The joint initiative in the new era will also include strong actions to promote the Asian Net Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), promoting digital transformation, innovation... are all areas that the two countries are especially interested in. Japanese businesses also expressed their willingness to share their experiences and knowledge to contribute to the development of the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world" between the two countries.
As co-chairman of the Vietnam - Japan Economic Committee, Mr. Fujimoto Masayohi affirmed that the Committee and Keidanren will continue to strongly participate in the Vietnam Japan Joint Initiative in the new era and promote activities. Actively cooperate and exchange with the Japanese Business Association in Vietnam (JCCI).
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| Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio. Photo: MPI. |
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio affirmed that 2023 is a special and remarkable year in the relationship between the two countries when the two sides agreed to upgrade to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity." prosperity in Asia and the world" as well as organizing many practical activities, high-level visits and people-to-people exchanges.
In the joint statement on upgrading relations between the two countries, activities such as AZEC, innovation, digital transformation, strengthening the supply value chain and human resource training are all mentioned, which is why the Initiative The Vietnam-Japan joint initiative in the new era will be a practical program to realize the proposed content.
The Vietnam - Japan joint initiative has also contributed significantly to improving the investment environment in Vietnam, especially Vietnam is always in the top 2 countries where Japanese businesses want to invest. The Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam said that the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative in the new era will continue to promote innovation as well as develop the manufacturing industry and supporting industries in Vietnam to build Build a sustainable value-added chain system.
Mr. Yamada Juinichi, Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said that the possibility of developing cooperation between the two countries through ODA capital is huge. From 1992 to present, Japan has given Vietnam over 2.700 billion Yen in ODA loans, most concentrated in infrastructure projects. Japan's ODA accounts for over 30% of bilateral development aid for Vietnam.
"In the process of implementing the Joint Initiative in the New Era, JICA will continue to promote high-quality growth in Vietnam and build a sustainable society through investment in building infrastructure systems." JICA will continue to become a stronger bridge in Vietnam - Japan relations in the next 50 years, aiming to build a better future, JICA Vice President emphasized.
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| Overview of the Kick-off meeting. Photo: MPI |
Phase 1 of the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative in the new era includes 05 main issue groups: (1) Promoting the Asian Net Zero Emissions Community, green transformation (AZEC/ GX); (0) Promoting innovation and digital transformation (DX); (2) Strengthen the supply chain, including developing supporting industries; (3) Training high-quality human resources (IT, AI, semiconductor fields); (4) Reform the mechanism to improve the investment environment.
The two sides also agreed that the implementation time for phase 1 of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the new era is expected to be 19 months (from March 3 to October 2024).
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| Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc spoke. Photo: MPI |
After listening to the working groups discuss the action plan for phase 1 of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the new era as well as commitments from the parties to actively implement the Joint Initiative, Deputy Minister Ministry of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc highly appreciated the opinions of the Japanese side; believes that the 5 groups of issues in phase 1 are all strategic, comprehensive and consistent with current development trends.
To effectively deploy the cooperation mechanism and realize the contents of the Kick-off Meeting, the Deputy Minister requested each working group to develop a specific action plan and agree on implementation content in the coming time. . With the efforts of members of both sides, the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the New Era will contribute to promoting the common prosperity of the two countries' business communities, deepening the good relationship between the two countries. Vietnam and Japan and realizing the goals set out in the Joint Declaration.
At the meeting, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung, the Co-Chairs of the Vietnam - Japan Economic Committee and the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative in the New Era, Phase 1. On this occasion, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung also awarded the Medal "For the cause of Vietnam's Planning and Investment" to Mr. Takio Yamada, Mr. Masayuki Hyodo and Mr. Fujimoto Masayoshi./.
Bao Linh – Electronic information portal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment
