Vietnam - Japan expand cooperation on visas, ODA and labor export

At the meetings, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to develop substantially and effectively in all areas with high political trust. Japan is one of Vietnam's leading important partners in the fields of ODA, investment, trade, and labor. Japan's ODA capital has made an important contribution to infrastructure construction with many projects that are symbolic of the bilateral relationship. The two countries are also expanding cooperation to new areas such as energy transition, green transition, digital transformation, etc.

Proposal to exempt entry visas and grant long-term visas to Vietnamese citizens

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with Vice President of the Senate Nagahama Hiroyuki. (Photo: World and Vietnam Newspaper)

At the meeting with Vice President of the Senate Nagahama Hiroyuki, Mr. Bui Thanh Son asked Japan to pay attention to, support and promote delegation exchanges at all levels, parliamentary exchanges, exchanges between young parliamentarians and female parliamentarians; support the two countries to deepen economic ties through promoting ODA cooperation, investment, trade, etc.

At the same time, promote cooperation between the two countries in training high-quality human resources in the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, green transformation, railways and high-speed railways; promote local exchanges and connections; expand cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Mr. Bui Thanh Son supports the Japanese Government to continue simplifying procedures and moving towards visa exemption, considering granting long-term visas to Vietnamese citizens.

Agreeing with the proposals from Vietnam, Mr. Hiroyuki affirmed that he would support promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan in all fields; and strengthen exchanges and close cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries in the coming time.

He also said that Japan will continue to create conditions for Vietnamese workers and trainees to work with peace of mind within the framework of the new "training - work" regime that Japan has issued to replace the "technical trainee" regime.

Promoting the progress of ODA projects in Vietnam

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met and discussed with the Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (Photo: The World and Vietnam Newspaper)

Working with JICA Vice President Miyazaki Katsura, Mr. Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the Vietnamese Government continues to consider ODA as an important source of capital, prioritizing large and key infrastructure construction projects in the coming time. In that spirit, the Vietnamese side proposed that Japan accelerate the progress of a number of key ODA cooperation projects between the two countries.

Mr. Bui Thanh Son suggested that JICA promote the consideration of providing Vietnam with new generation ODA loans with more preferential and simpler loan conditions and procedures in the fields of large-scale infrastructure development in Vietnam, healthcare, environmental protection, and climate change response.

He also proposed that JICA support Vietnam in training human resources and promote specific aid projects for Vietnam in new areas such as digital transformation, green transformation, innovation, and administrative reform.

JICA Vice President Miyazaki Katsura welcomed the 12th meeting of the Vietnam - Japan Cooperation Committee for actively discussing measures to promote economic cooperation, including ODA cooperation, to become more substantive and effective.

JICA Vice President agreed to consider Vietnam's proposals on implementing a number of ODA loan projects and supporting human resource training in new fields such as digital transformation, green transformation, and innovation.

On this occasion, he also announced that he would send a delegation to survey a project to develop climate change-adaptive infrastructure to support production for ethnic minorities in 11 mountainous and midland provinces in the North.

Hokkaido wants to accept more Vietnamese workers

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (left) and Provincial Governor Suzuki Naomichi. (Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper)

In an exchange with Governor of Hokkaido Suzuki Naomichi, Mr. Bui Thanh Son suggested that Hokkaido continue to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese localities in specific and practical areas such as trade, investment, tourism, culture, and Japanese language teaching. He encouraged businesses in the province to invest more in Vietnam in areas where Hokkaido has strengths such as high-tech agriculture, forestry, seafood processing and export, etc.

At the same time, strengthen cooperation in training human resources, especially high-quality human resources in the semiconductor industry, expand the reception of Vietnamese interns, and pay attention to and create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and work in Hokkaido province.

Appreciating the contributions of the community of about 12,000 Vietnamese people in Hokkaido, Mr. Suzuki Naomichi said that the province wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese localities, receive more high-quality workers and Vietnamese trainees to work in the province and agreed to promote cooperation in human resource training.

He affirmed that he will continue to support the Vietnamese community here, and continue to organize more cultural and people-to-people exchange events such as the Vietnam Festival in Sapporo, the Hokkaido Festival in Ha Long... Thereby, it aims to strengthen the connection, affection and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

Proposing Japan to promote opening departments to teach Vietnamese and research about Vietnam At the invitation of the Japanese Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Japan from August 7-10, 2024.

Can Tho and Fukuoka (Japan) promote cooperation in drainage and economic exchange On the afternoon of August 7, Mr. Duong Tan Hien - Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, together with leaders of relevant departments and branches, had a meeting and worked with the working delegation of Fukuoka City, Japan, led by Mr. Fujii Yoshikazu - Executive Director of the General Affairs Department, Road and Drainage Department of Fukuoka City.