Tokyo (VNA) – An economicforum connecting localities and businesses of Vietnam with those of Japan’sKyushu region took place in Fukuoka prefecture on October 6.

The forum was held by the VietnameseConsulate General in Fukuoka and the Kyushu Economic Federation on the occasionof the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties. Itattracted nearly 400 delegates who are representatives of Vietnamese businessesand localities, including Bac Giang, Ca Mau, Dien Bien, Hai Duong, Lang Son,Thai Nguyen, Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh Long, and officials of Japaneseprefectures in the Kyushu region.

In her opening remarks, VietnameseDeputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is also head of theState Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, expressed her hope that theVietnam - Japan relations, including those between Vietnam and Kyushu, willbecome a role model of the partnership for development. She said she wished for effectiveimplementation of cooperation frameworks and projects in trade-investment,hi-tech agriculture, labour, manpower training, climate change response, greengrowth, new-generation official development assistance (ODA), strategicinfrastructure, food security, and energy transition.

Hang said she believes that with manycomplementary advantages, Vietnam will be part of the answer to the search forgrowth momentum for the economy of Japan and Kyushu.

Particularly, the nearly 6 millionoverseas Vietnamese, including many successful entrepreneurs and intellectuals,in more than 130 countries and territories is an important resource for Vietnam’sdevelopment and also high potential partners of Japanese and globalbusinesses, she added.

FukuokaGovernor Hattori Seitaro said businesses of his prefecture are highly interestedin the Vietnamese market. He cited a survey by the local investment promotionagency as showing that Vietnam ranks second among the foreign markets thatFukuoka companies want to seek investment chances in.

He voiced his hope that Vietnameseand local businesses could source cooperation opportunities at the forum sothat investment in each other’s markets will increase.

Meanwhile, Vu Chi Mai, Consul Generalof Vietnam in Fukuoka, affirmed that the Consulate General in the prefecture andthe local administration will serve as a sustainable bridge helping the twocountries’ localities and businesses, including the overseas Vietnamesecompanies in Japan, promote substantive and effective economic partnerships.

Earlier, Deputy Minister Hang andofficials of the Vietnamese localities had a meeting with the Fukuoka Governor.Participants in the forum also visited an exhibition of products fromVietnamese and Kyushu localities and businesses./.