HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh Cityhas bolstered its cooperative ties with Japan on the foundation of the thrivingVietnam-Japan relations over the past 45 years since the two countriesestablished diplomatic ties in 1973.

At present, more than 1,100 Japanese firms withtotal registered capital of nearly 4 billion USD, are doing business in thecity, the greatest economic hub in southern Vietnam. They mainly operate inprocessing-manufacturing, and infrastructure construction.

Japan is the third largest trade partner of HCMCity, with bilateral trade turnover surpassing 5 billion USD in 2017.

The East Asian country is also the fifth largestsource market of HCM City’s tourism sector.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s CommitteeLe Thanh Liem appreciated Japanese firms for introducing modern technology toVietnam, training skilled workers and technicians and generating jobs for localworkers, thus contributing to the city’s industrialisation and modernisationcause.

In addition, HCM City has benefited greatly fromJapan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). Japan’s ODA provides importantfunding for the city’s major infrastructure projects such as the Ben Thanh-SuoiTien metro line, and the water environmental improvement scheme.

Ties between the city and Japanese localities havealso been expanded, with the city signing friendship agreements with sevenprefectures and cities of Japan, which are Aichi, Hyogo, Osaka, Shiga, Naganoprefectures and Yokohama and Osaka cities.

In the first eight months of this year alone, HCMCity welcomed nearly 30 delegations of Japanese officials, and the municipalofficials also made three trips to Japan.

The partnership between HCM City and Japaneselocalities focused on areas of mutual interest such as water resource andenvironment management, and investment promotion, alongside cultural exchangeand educational collaboration.

Last year witnessed the HCM City Days event inOsaka, and several Japan-Vietnam festivals in HCM City. This year, the city hasjoined hands with Japanese partners to hold a Vietnam Festival in Aichi underthe theme of “HCM City – Integration and Development, and the Feel JapanFestival and the Japan Festival “Holding Hands Tightly” in HCM City.

During their meetings, officials of both HCM Cityand Japanese localities shared the view that there is still great potential forthe two sides to expand their partnership, particularly in trade, investment,education and health care.

The city has recently signed several deals withJapanese localities, including one on training and supply caregivers withYokohama city, and trade and investment promotion programmes with Aichi, Osakaand Saitama prefectures.

According to city officials, the stable increasein the number of Japanese companies investing and doing business in HCM Cityover the past years reflects their real interest in the city as well as thecity’s appeal.

HCM City is embarking on seven breakthrough programmestowards turning itself into a smart city, which will open up new opportunitiesfor cooperation between the city and Japan, especially in fields Japanesecompanies are strong such as support industry, high-tech production and humanresources training.

Japan’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City KawaueJunichi said as the biggest metropolis in Vietnam, HCM City plays a key role inexpanding cooperation between Japan and Vietnam, as well as in implementingjoint programmes to enhance mutual understanding and solidarity.

In fact, as the most populous city and a leader inmulti-lateral external relations, HCM City is the place of choice for exchangeactivities between Vietnam and Japan, from cultural events to youth exchangesand friendship sport games. The HCM City Union of Friendship Organisations(HUFO) and the municipal Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association have played thecentral role in organising such activities, contributing to tightening therelationship between the city and the Japanese people.-VNA