Fukuoka (VNA) - Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on November 29received Governor ofFukuoka prefecture Hattori Seitaro and leaders of Nagasaki, Miyazaki,Saga and Kagoshima prefectures of Japan, as part of his ongoing official vi🅷sit to the EastAsian country.

ThePresident highly appreciated the efforts of the Governor of Fukuoka prefecture and leaders of localities in the Kyushu region in promoting multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. Emphasising that the upgrade of Vietnam - Japan relationsto the "Comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asiaand the world" will open up a new stage of development in the two countries'relations, the Vietnamese leader requested the Japanese officials to make greater efforts to realise the new relationship framework by promoting cooperationbetween the Kyushu region and Vietnamese localities, and enhancing cooperation with Vinh Long, Binh Thuan provinces and Can Tho city through exchangeactivities and exchange of delegations at all levels. He called for more investment from the Kyushu region’s enterprises in Vietnam, especiallyin the fields of their strengths such as processing, manufacturing, smart agricultureand wastewater treatment and cooperation in human resources training. The Japaneseofficials briefed President Thuong about cooperation between the Kyushu regionand Vietnam in recent times, affirming that the region is willing to strengthencollaboration with Vietnamese localities and wants to receive more high-qualitylabourers and technical apprentices from Vietnam to work in the prefectures. Hattori Seitaro said he wants to resume theStudy Tour programme for high school students to Vietnam, thereby enhancing mutual understanding between the two countries' young generations while the DeputyGovernor of Kagoshima prefecture affirmed that he will make efforts to promotethe opening of regular flights between Kagoshima prefecture and Vietnam, thusstrengthening economic and tourism cooperation between the two sides. President Thuong asked the leaders of the Japanese prefectures to support and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese communityto live, study, work successfully, and actively contribute to the development of Japanese localities as well as good relations betweenthe two countries. The same day, President Thuong met withstaff of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka prefecture andrepresentatives of the Vietnamese community in the Kyushu region. Vu Chi Mai, Consulate General of Vietnam inFukuoka, said that over the past time, the staff of the Consulate General has made greatefforts to overcome difficulties and uphold their responsibility tosuccessfully fulfil assigned tasks, especially supporting and protectingcitizens in the Kyushu region, where more than 50,000 Vietnamese people are living, working and studying. The Consulate General has established a teamof public lawyers to assist and protect citizens, and carry out the communication work to help the Vietnamese community comply with the host country's law. It has also regularly organised trade promotion and social charity activities,cultural exchanges and sport tournaments to bring the Vietnamese community closer together. The President said that the Party and Statealways want overseas Vietnamese, including those in Japan to well integrateinto the society of the host country, maintain the traditional culturalidentity of Vietnamese people, make more contributions to the host nation, and cultivate the Vietnam-Japan friendship. He called on the Vietnamese community in theKyushu region to comply with the host country's laws and promote the image of Vietnamese people in the eyes of international friends./.