Vietnam – Japan boost strategic partnership At the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida paid an official visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 2, 2014 with the aim of promoting deeply and widely the Vietnam – Japan strategic partnership in many fields. During his stay in Vietnam, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met with State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and attended many important events. On August 1, 2014, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida co-chaired the 6th meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee in Hanoi with the participation of representatives from ministries and sectors of the two countries. At the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam considers Japan one of its top strategic partners while Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida emphasised Japan’s determination to boost the strategic partnership with Vietnam. The two sides discussed and agreed on measures to boost bilateral ties in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable manner in the future by maintaining regular exchange of visits and meetings between the two countries’ senior leaders, promoting the role of existing dialogue mechanisms and intensifying connection between the two sides’ ministries and localities. The two ministers reached a consensus on effectively implementing agreements signed by high-level officials, particularly major infrastructure projects such as the North-South Highway, Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong City, and Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Plant. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida also affirmed that Japan continues to consider Vietnam as a leading partner in official development assistance (ODA). The Japanese Government continues maintaining a high level of ODA for Vietnam, focusing on supporting growth, enhancing competitiveness, improving the market economy mechanism, training human resources and preventing natural disasters. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highly valued the Japanese Government’s commitment to maintaining the provision of its ODA at a high level for Vietnam, including the signing of a diplomatic note of exchange on a non-refundable aid package worth 4.86 million dollars to ensure maritime safety and a 3.43 million dollars grant for a human resources development scholarship programme in 2014. He reaffirmed the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to effectively use Japan’s ODA so as to further promote socio-economic development. Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation/ Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group To Huy Rua receives Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Both sides also agreed to continue collaboration to improve the investment environment in Vietnam, speed up a public-private partnership model, and strengthen connection in trade, human resources training, science technology, climate change, culture and people-to-people exchange. They applauded the growing agricultural cooperation between the two countries in recent times and examined ways to carry out a number of projects such as Bach Dang Bridge, Can Tho University and a Vietnam – Japan University. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highly appreciated the Japanese Government’s policy for facilitating the grant of entry visas for Vietnamese citizens in recent years. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida affirmed to continue assisting Vietnam in implementing its Industrialisation Strategy in the framework of the Vietnam – Japan Cooperation and the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative to improve the investment environment in Vietnam. The two officials shared their reviews and agreed to intensify cooperation in regional and international issues of mutual concern. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh underlined that Vietnam welcomes Japan’s active and constructive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. The two sides agreed that parties concerned should settle disputes in the East Sea through peaceful dialogues on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, observing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct (COC), contributing to maintaining security, maritime safety, stability and peace in the region. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh receives Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.   The talks between the two officials.   The two foreign ministers co-chair the 6th meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee.   Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan sign a diplomatic note of exchange on a non-refundable 3.43 million dollars grant from Japan for a human resources development scholarship programme in 2014 for Vietnam.   Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh sign a diplomatic note of exchange on a non-refundable aid worth 4.86 million dollars from Japan for Vietnam to ensure maritime safety.   President Truong Tan Sang receives Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.   Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung receives Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.   Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation/ Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group To Huy Rua receives Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visits the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – Hanoi.   Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida visits Hoa Lac High - Tech Park. Source: VNA/VNP