HANOI - Vietnam's Prime
Minister Phan Van Khai on Sunday proposed that the
Japanese government increase its official development
assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, particularly in
non-refundable aid, to upgrade the hospital system and a
water drainage project in central Hue city.
The
prime minister spoke at a meeting in Hanoi with his
Japanese counterpart Koizumi Junichiro, who was in the
capital to attend the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
Khai said Vietnam wanted Japan to
send its experts to help the country protect and
preserve the Thang Long Royal Citadel in Hanoi. He also
asked Japan to wrap up this year's negotiations so
Vietnam can join the World Trade Organization (WTO) by
next year.
Prime Minister Khai welcomed Koizumi and his
entourage to Vietnam for ASEM and said he appreciated
the Japanese prime minister's contributions to the
summit's success.
Khai thanked the Japanese
government and people for their effective assistance to
Vietnam, particularly in building infrastructure
projects.
He emphasized that Vietnam considered
Japan an important long-term partner, saying the two
countries should promote further cooperation in the
future.
Prime Minister Koizumi said he highly
valued Vietnam's role as a host country for the ASEM
summit.
He said his country desired further ties
between the two nations, particularly in regard to
economics, trade and tourism, adding that Japan
completely supported Vietnam in its WTO bid.
Koizumi added that Japan would donate US$1.5
billion for development projects along the Cuu Long
(Mekong) river region, saying Japan was interested in
aiding Vietnam's economic development and environmental
protection.
The two countries plan to hold a
cultural exchange week, which will include a Japanese
language program, in Vietnam.
On Saturday,
Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien thanked the Japanese
government for its cooperation in helping Vietnam
successfully host ASEM.
He added that he hoped
Vietnam would receive similar cooperation from Japan
while organizing the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) meeting in 2006.
Nien and his Japanese
counterpart, Nobutaka Machimura, said they were
delighted with the growing ties between the two
countries in recent years, especially between their
respective ministries.
This, they said,
contributed to a strengthening of relations and fostered
trust and long-term stability to advance the interests
of the two peoples and provide peace, stability,
cooperation and development to Asia-Pacific and the
world.
Machimura pledged that Japan would
maintain ODA to Vietnam, encourage investment and
support Vietnam's admission to the WTO in 2005. He also
promised to help preserve the Hanoi Citadel, develop the
Mekong sub-region and cooperate in other fields such as
the environment and tourism.
Nien congratulated
Machimura on his recent appointment as foreign minister
and for taking the time to visit Vietnam.
(Asia
Pulse/VNA)
Oct 13, 2004
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