The visit was made at the invitation of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
Vietnam-Japan relations have grown steadily since the fifth meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee in 2013. Both nations elevated their ties to a new level of extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia during State President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Japan in March 2014.
Japan is now Vietnam’s leading important partner and the first G7 which recognised Vietnam’s market economy status in October 2011. At present, Japan is Vietnam's largest ODA provider, leading investor and the fourth trade partner.
Two-way trade turnover reached more than US$24 billion in 2013 and nearly US$10.7 billion in the first five months of the year, of which Vietnam’s exports to Japan hit nearly US$6 billion, up 12.6% against the same period last year.
