A busy day of Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân in Japan

Vietnamese Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân (R) and Japanese FM Okada, Tokyo, Japan, May 22, 2010 – Photo: VGP/Từ Lương

Việt Nam attaches importance to cementing and deepening ties with Japan, one of its long-term strategic partners, said Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân while meeting with Japanese FM Okada.

As the Chair of ASEAN in 2010, said Deputy PM Nhân, Việt Nam hopes to narrow the space between Japan and ASEAN for closer linkages.

For his part, FM Okada expressed his hope that relevant ministries, localities and agencies of the two countries would join hands to realize the Việt Nam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) for mutual substantial benefits.

Vietnamese Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân (2nd from L) and Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Tatsuo Kawataba, Tokyo, Japan, May 21, 2010 – Photo: VGP/Từ Lương

Meeting with the MEXT Minister, Deputy PM Nhân underlined the significance of world-class universities to Việt Nam’s development and expressed his desire to work with Japanese partners to build such a university in Việt Nam. He also took the occasion to seek Japan’s support for the Thăng Long Royal Citadel to be recognized by the UNESCO as a world heritage. 

The Japanese Government, especially the MEXT, is interested in welcoming more and more Vietnamese students and postgraduates to study in Japan, said Minister Tatsuo Kawataba.

It was reported that, so far, among ASEAN member states, Việt Nam has the biggest number of students learning in Japan. 

Mr. Tatsuo Kawataba also pledged to assign his inferiors to consider the establishment of a world-class university in Việt Nam. 

On the same day, Deputy PM Nguyễn Thiện Nhân also received President of the Japan-Việt Nam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Kano and Vice President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Arai Azumi./.

By Kim Loan