Hanoi (VNA) – An event toreview economic cooperation between Vietnam and Japan over the years andtowards effective development in the future was held by the Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (VCCI) on February 25.

The Vietnam-Japan economic dialogue is partof a working visit to Vietnam by a Japanese business delegation led by YoichiKobayashi, Chairman of the Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee, fromFebruary 24-27.

The dialogue offered a chance forbusinesses from the two countries to meet, exchange information, and seekfuture partners; while exploring the potential for bilateral economic, trade,and investment cooperation.

Opening the event, VCCI Chairman Vu TienLoc stressed the significant contributions of multifaceted cooperation betweenthe two countries towards Vietnam’s socio-economic development over the years.

Potential for cooperation will beaccelerated further in some fields, such as high-tech agriculture, the supportingindustry, tourism, and science-technology, he added.

Japan is currently Vietnam’s second largestforeign investor, third major partner in tourism, and fourth leading tradepartner, while two-way trade values hit nearly 40 billion USD in 2018.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is among countries withhuge potential for attracting foreign investment and there are many chances forthe supporting technology development in the country for Japanese small- andmedium-sized enterprises, Loc said.

In the previous year, Vietnam exportedvarious products to Japan, including garment-textile, devices and accessories,aquatic products, and timber and wooden products. The country imported fromJapan machinery and devices, tools and accessories, computers, electronicproducts and spare parts, and iron and steel, among others.

For his part, Kobayashi said that exchangesand dialogues have helped to strengthen the Japan-Vietnam friendship, addingthat with a population of nearly 100 million people, Vietnam is becoming anattractive consumer market for foreign investors, including those from Japan.

Director of Japan Airlines ShinichiroShimizu said that as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has come into force, the Vietnam-Japanrelations look likely to be enhanced in the time to come.

He said that Japanese firms expect totighten cooperation and share experiences with Vietnamese counterparts tosupport each other in raising business efficiency. The two sides also need topay attention to and address problems during the implementation of the CPTPP,especially in logistics, he noted. –VNA