Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee To Huy Rua met former Japanese Prime Minister Hatto Yama in Tokyo on September 17. Rua, who is also head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission and President of the Vietnam – Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association, thanked Yama for his contributions to the bilateral ties in his role as Prime Minister in the past and Chairman of the Institute for East Asian Studies at present. Both sides expressed confidence that cooperative ties between the two nations will further progress in the future, especially following the ongoing visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. In a separate meeting with Rua, Senator Toshihiro Nikai, President of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Association, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit marks a key step forward in the Japan – Vietnam ties. They discussed plans for joint actions between the two parliamentary friendship associations in the near future. During the Party chief’s visit, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat held a working session with Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa. Another working session was co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoichi Miyazawa.-VNA