Vietnam seeks Japan’s new-generation ODA for major transport projects

Japan should conduct research, cooperate, and provide funds from its new generation of official development assistance (ODA) to expedite the implementation of the railway project from central Hanoi to Hoa Lac High-Tech Park.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (r) and Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomo (l). Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP

“This initiative has significant implications, including facilitating the development of the Vietnam-Japan University.”

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the comment at a meeting with Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomo on March 14, to discuss measures to further realize the Vietnam-Japan Strategic Comprehensive Partnership. Takebe is in Vietnam as the  Honorary Chairman of the 9th Japan-Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Prime Minister highly praised the 9th Japan-Vietnam Festival as a large-scale cultural exchange activity between Vietnam and Japan, marking the first year of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. He congratulated the successful organization of the festival, which saw the participation and attention of many Vietnamese leaders and nearly 400,000 visitors on March 9 and 10, enhancing friendship and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Takebe's sincere sentiments, enthusiasm, and dedicated efforts in promoting friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, especially in the establishment of the Vietnam-Japan University.

Both sides were pleased to note that in 2023, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Also, last year, both countries organized over 500 commemorative activities and nearly 200 exchange delegations involving leaders from ministries, agencies, and localities.

Japan has been and remains Vietnam's leading economic partner. Labor cooperation, human resource training, and local cooperation are being strengthened. Cultural exchanges and people-to-people interactions are deepening, contributing to mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

The Vietnamese community in Japan, numbering nearly 520,000, has become the second largest foreign community in Japan, actively contributing to the socio-economic development of both countries.

Chinh suggested that Takebe pay attention to promoting educational cooperation, including upgrading the Japanese Cultural and Language Center at Halong University into a research center for Japanese studies, enhancing the quality of education at the Vietnam Japan University, and opening a semiconductor engineering department there. He also suggested strengthening cooperation with the Vietnam National Innovation Center, such as organizing the Japan-Vietnam Cultural-Educational Day in October every year.

Moreover, they discussed promoting decentralized cooperation in investment, trade, and tourism, as well as cultural connections, people-to-people exchanges, and tourism cooperation, including the successful organization of the Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido and the Hokkaido Festival in Halong in 2024. These are also important aspects of implementing the new bilateral relationship framework.

The two also discussed promoting labor force training cooperation between the two countries, especially as Vietnam has recently organized its first overseas labor forum in Japan, as well as improving working conditions and quality of life for interns and Vietnamese workers in Japan.

Affirming that the bilateral relationship is currently at its best in history, Takebe thanked the Prime Minister for his strong support in various capacities for programs and cooperation projects between the two countries such as the Vietnam Japan University, the Japan-Vietnam Festival, Vietnam Festival in Hokkaido, and the Hokkaido Festival in Ha Long.

In agreement with the Prime Minister's views, Takebe Tsutomu reaffirmed his continued interest and support in promoting cooperation with Vietnam, especially in the areas of potential for further cooperation as mentioned by the Prime Minister,  thus actively contributing to the further development of bilateral relations.

He also exchanged views and proposed some concrete measures to promote friendly cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, particularly the establishment of an "ecosystem" to support training, and human resource development, including the development of the Vietnam Japan University and the Japanese Culture and Language Center, the promotion of school tourism cooperation, intern training, and labor cooperation.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed removing obstacles and speeding up the construction progress of the Vietnam Japan University headquarters project.