Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed and welcomed Mr. Shiota Koichi and the Kagoshima Prefecture delegation to visit Vietnam at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations.

According to the Prime Minister, the Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership is in a period of good and comprehensive development with increasingly enhanced political trust. Visits and contacts between the two countries' senior leaders take place regularly. Japan continues to be Vietnam's leading economic partner, the largest ODA donor, the third largest investor and tourism partner, and the fourth largest trade partner of Vietnam. The Vietnamese community in Japan has reached nearly 500,000 people. Local cooperation between the two countries is increasingly deep, a specific and effective implementation of the agreements of the two countries' leaders, contributing to promoting the substantial development of Vietnam-Japan relations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Shiota Koichi, Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, who is visiting and working in Vietnam. Photo: DUONG GIANG

In recent times, despite facing many challenges in the context of a difficult and unstable world and regional situation, Vietnam's economy has been basically stable, inflation has been controlled, and major balances have been ensured. Political security and social order and safety have been ensured, and the material and spiritual lives of the people have been improved.

The Prime Minister thanked the Governor for his affection and concern for Vietnam in recent times. Through this, cooperation between Vietnam and Kagoshima Prefecture has been promoted, especially in the fields of manufacturing industry, agriculture, seafood processing and tourism, receiving international students and trainees. In particular, policies to support and facilitate the community of more than 5,000 Vietnamese people living and studying in Kagoshima Prefecture - the first locality in Japan to organize the Tet Festival for Vietnamese people.

As a province with many leading semiconductor, electronics and automobile industrial zones of large corporations such as Sony, Toyota, etc.; and at the same time being a leading agricultural and seafood production locality in Japan, the Prime Minister said that Kagoshima province and localities of Vietnam have many strengths that can complement each other, and the potential for cooperation is still very large.

The Prime Minister asked the Governor and the Kagoshima Prefecture Government to encourage businesses from the province to invest more in Vietnam in areas where the province has strengths such as automobiles, semiconductors, agriculture, agricultural processing and supporting industries. In particular, effectively implementing the agreements signed with Hai Duong province and the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, bringing the relationship into reality and effectiveness; at the same time, continuing to expand cooperation to areas such as culture, tourism, cuisine and with other provinces and cities of Vietnam, especially on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The Prime Minister hoped that the Kagoshima Prefectural Government would continue to pay attention to and create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and work in the province; support and organize activities connecting the Vietnamese community and Kagoshima people, etc., thereby enhancing trust and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries; and believed that with the efforts, friendship and cooperation between Kagoshima Prefecture and Vietnamese localities, it would become a new bright spot, a typical example of the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

Agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s opinion, Governor of Kagoshima Prefecture - Mr. Shiota Koichi said that Kagoshima is one of the major provinces in the Kyushu region, southern Japan; the province will continue to wish to cooperate with Vietnam in the fields of manufacturing industry, agriculture, seafood processing and tourism; and receive international students and interns.

During his visit to Vietnam, the Governor will visit Hai Duong province, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, work with a number of large Japanese enterprises such as Aeon Mall, Akuruhi...; hope to open a direct flight from Kagoshima province to Vietnam, creating conditions to promote cooperation in various fields; contributing to promoting the Vietnam - Japan relationship to become more practical and effective.

VNA