NA Chairman praises relations with JCP NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung receives Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) (Photo: VNA) Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Sinh Hung received a delegation from the Japanese Communist Party ( JCP ) led by its Chairman Shii Kazuo in Hanoi on September 24.  At the reception, Chairman Hung applauded the visit as it aims to raise cooperation between the JCP and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) to a new level of development for peace and friendship. He emphasised the need to continue preserving and promoting the relationship between the two parties as it is an inheritance and proceeding to the time-honoured Vietnam-Japan ties. He spoke highly of cooperation and exchanges between the two parties over the past time, suggesting that the two sides continue to diversify forms of cooperation and coordination to clarify theoretical and practical issues on socialism. Chairman Hung said he is pleased with the positive development of Vietnam-Japan ties, especially in 2013 when the two countries are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year. At present, the two sides are focusing on developing their relations in the framework of the Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia as agreed by their high-ranking leaders, he added. The top Vietnamese legislator expressed his wish that the JCP will make more efforts to foster cooperation between the two parliaments and increase exchanges between friendship parliamentarians’ groups. For his part, Shii Kazuo informed the host of the outcomes of his talks with General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, saying that the two parties have agreed to bring their ties to a new height through the continuation of theoretical exchanges and promotion of multi-faceted cooperation. He suggested the Vietnamese and Japanese Parliaments further step up cooperation programmes and projects in order to share legislative experience. The same day, the Japanese guests were received by CPV Politburo member To Huy Rua, who is currently the President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group. Rua hailed the relationship between the JCP and the CPV, saying that it plays an important role in promoting the two countries’ ties. He also spoke highly of the role of JCP lawmakers in the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Alliance, especially in fostering the relations between the two parliaments. The JCP Chairman affirmed that his party will support and actively join the alliance’s efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two parliaments and the two countries in general.  During their stay in Vietnam, the Japanese communists had a working session with a delegation from the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Affairs led by its head Hoang Binh Quan. The two sides discussed several regional and international issues of common concern as well as measures to realise cooperation and exchange plans.-VNA