Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the Vietnam-Japan Labor Cooperation Forum. (Photo: Doan Bac)

Also attending the Forum were ministries, branches, agencies, localities, representatives of organizations, associations, businesses of Japan and Vietnam, and a large number of Vietnamese interns and workers. On the Japanese government side, there were the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan.

Speaking at the Forum, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the organization of the Forum - the first national forum on labor held abroad. The event is even more meaningful as the two countries have just established a comprehensive strategic partnership on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

According to the Prime Minister, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has gone through 50 years of strong, comprehensive and substantive development in all fields with high political trust and close ties.

The Prime Minister emphasized, "50 years ago, no one thought that the relationship between Vietnam and Japan could be like today. In which, close ties, sincerity, affection, and political trust are the most important assets. It is a connection from heart to heart, including connections in labor", the Prime Minister stated and hoped that the achievements of the past 50 years will be multiplied many times in the next 50 years.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the organization of the Forum - the first national forum on labor held abroad. (Photo: Duc Khai)

Japan is Vietnam's leading economic partner, the largest ODA provider, the second largest in labor cooperation, the third largest in investment and tourism, and the fourth largest in trade. People-to-people exchanges and local cooperation are increasingly expanding, with nearly 100 pairs of localities having established cooperative relations.

The Vietnamese community in Japan currently has nearly 500,000 people, including about 350,000 workers, making it the second largest foreign community in Japan and contributing to the economic and social development of Japan, becoming bridges connecting strong relations between the two countries and two peoples.

In the field of labor cooperation, the two countries have many complementary points, as Japan is a country with a highly developed socio-economic foundation, a high proportion of elderly people and a low birth rate. Meanwhile, Vietnam is a developing country with a golden population structure, an abundant source of young human resources, eager to learn, explore new technologies and new ways of doing things.

According to the Prime Minister, Vietnam is a developing country, to adapt to the speed of technological and scientific development, it requires high-quality human resources, this is the decisive factor. Therefore, labor cooperation activities with Japan must have a practical direction and be suitable to the actual situation.

Overview of the Vietnam-Japan Labor Cooperation Forum in Tokyo, afternoon of December 16. (Photo: Duc Khai)

The Prime Minister said that it is necessary to recruit and dispatch skilled and qualified workers with a desire to learn, a will to improve and perseverance to keep up with the development of the times in a number of industries in which Japan has strengths such as semiconductors, information technology, automation, biotechnology, agricultural technology, construction of underground wastewater treatment systems, urban environment... thereby forming a workforce trained through practical work in Japan to contribute to the development of those industries in Vietnam.

The Prime Minister requested that the Japanese authorities, the Vietnamese side, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, coordinate well with each other to create the best living and working conditions, create a favorable, safe, friendly, culturally harmonious environment, so that Vietnamese workers can study and work with peace of mind, comply with local laws, have the opportunity to improve their quality of life, live in a modern environment with Japanese cultural identity, and minimize violations of the law...

The Prime Minister hopes that the Japanese Government, authorities and localities will facilitate and simplify visa procedures, aiming to exempt entry visas for Vietnamese citizens to promote tourism cooperation between the two countries; soon implement study tours, pay attention to and create favorable conditions for the community of 500,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Japan, strongly promote the role of a bridge and deepen, deepen and expand the cooperative relationship between the two countries and peoples.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh took photos and interacted with young Vietnamese workers attending the Forum. (Photo: Duc Khai)

The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam, in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and ministries, sectors, localities, associations and enterprises of the two countries, to focus on effectively implementing solutions to promote labor cooperation between Vietnam and Japan to further develop, commensurate with the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world.

For Vietnamese trainees and workers, the Prime Minister said that the time living, studying and working in Japan will be unforgettable memories in their lives. The Prime Minister said that our ancestors taught us "a day's journey, a basketful of knowledge". The Prime Minister hopes and believes that the trainees will make good use of the opportunity to live and work in Japan, learn a lot of knowledge and skills of a developed country, learn the serious and professional working style and attitude and good qualities of the Japanese people so that when they return to Vietnam, they will contribute more positively to the sustainable development of the country.

At the same time, comply with and strictly abide by Japanese laws, constantly practice morality, have a joyful and healthy life, and contribute to promoting the image of the country and Vietnamese people who love work and love peace," the Prime Minister shared.