Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always treasures tieswith Japan and activities of its inve൩stors in the country, Prime Minister PhamMinh Chinh told a delegation from the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN) led by Masayoshi Fujimoto and Masayuki Hyodo, Co-chairmen of KEIDANREN’sJapan - Vietnam Economic Committee at a working session in Hanoi on March28.

Healso highlighted Japan as Vietnam's leading important economic partner, biggest partnerin official development assistance, second largest in labour cooperation, third largest ininvestment and fourth largest in trade. The leaderpraised the successful implementation of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiativeover the past two decades and welcomed the continuation of the joint initiative in the new era,focusing on promoting Asia Zero Emission Community/Green Transformation (AZEC/GX), innovation and digital transformation, supplychains, including developing supporting industries; quality human resourcesdevelopment, and mechanism reform to improve the business environment. LaudingVietnam as one of the most important partners, the co-chairmen said Keidanren andJapanese firms want to continue contributing to the bilateral ties, especially in economic cooperation. They cited a survey by the Japan Bank for InternationalCooperation (JBIC) indicating that Vietnam ranks second among the mostattractive destinations for Japanese investors in both medium and longterms, especiallyin supporting industry, digital transformation, hi-quality human resourcestraining and global supply chain. Keidanren and Japaneseenterprises pledge to support Vietnam's green transition and accelerationof projects aligning with the Political Declaration establishing the JustEnergy Transition Partnership (JETP) and Japan's Asia Zero Emission Community(AZEC) initiative, they said. In response, PM Chinh suggested KEIDANRENand firms continue strengthening economic connectivity between the twocountries, expand cooperation in investment, especially in priority areasoutlined in the Vietnam-Japan Joint Statement on the upgrade of the Vietnam-Japan relationsto a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asiaand the World"; assist Vietnam in strategic infrastructure, energy,supporting industries, hi-quality agriculture, sci-tech, green and digitaltransformation, environmental protection, climate change response,semiconductor, quality human resource training, and people-to-people andcultural exchanges, and labour cooperation; and offer suggestions regardingpolicies, administrative reform, and improvement of the business environment inVietnam. ReiteratingVietnam's unwavering support for long-term foreign investors, he said the Southeast Asian country is making efforts to streamline procedures for the implementation of ODA-funded projects, addingthat discussions are underway to negotiate and sign a Vietnam-Japan socialinsurance agreement./.