Activities of Party Politburo member Truong Tan Sang in Japan

On the second day of his Japan visit, ( June 2^nd ) Party Politburo member Truong Tan Sang has spoken highly of the positive development of Vietnam-Japan relations over the last 40 years.

In his talks with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in Tokyo, Comrade  Sang  permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, affirmed Vietnamese Party and State’s policies of boosting the “strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” between the two countries.

He asked the two countries to strengthen high-level visits, expand delegation exchanges, choose 2013 as “Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year” and work together to organize activities to mark 40 years of diplomatic ties.

During the talks, Mr. Truong Tan Sang expressed sympathy towards the losses caused by tsunami to the Japanese people, affirming that Vietnam would do its best to support Japan to overcome difficulties.

He also spoke highly of Japan ’s strong provision of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam , regarding it as a manifestation of Japan ’s goodwill and political commitment to the development of the two nations’ strategic partnership.

Comrade Sang said he expected Japan to continue to maintain and increase ODA provision to Vietnam and affirmed that Vietnam would effectively implement the agreements reached during PM Kan’s visit last October.

He also invited the Japanese Emperor, Empress, members of the royal family and PM Kan, to visit Vietnam .

PM Kan thanked the Vietnamese for timely support to Japan and praised the role Vietnam played as ASEAN Chair last year.

He also highly value agreements reached between the two countries’ leaders on large-scale projects and joint efforts to implement these projects.

PM Kan promised Japan would work with Vietnam to build programs to celebrate the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

At his meeting with Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Comrade Sang stressed that Vietnam was willing to do its utmost to help Japan .

He also affirmed that Vietnam would accelerate the implementation of joint agreements reached between the two leaders during PM Kan’s visit to Vietnam last October.

Minister Noda said Japan would continue to provide ODA for Vietnam as committed, and was willing to help Vietnam complete infrastructural facilities, including an electronic customs system, and improve human resource training.

The same day, the Vietnam leader held a meeting with Chairperson of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Sadako Ogata, during which he thanked the agency for its cooperation in implementing projects in many sectors in Vietnam .

Vietnam has used Japan ’s ODA effectively to improve infrastructure and human resource training, Sang said, asking JICA to cooperate more in human resource training with Vietnam by setting up vocational schools.

For her part, Ogata committed to continued assistance to Vietnam in improving infrastructure and human resource training.

Party official visits Japanese disaster victims

Comrade Truong Tan Sang on June 3 visited victims of earthquake and tsunami in Asahi city, Chiba prefecture of Japan .

The Vietnamese Party official expressed his deep sympathy over losses and difficulties experienced by the Japanese people.

Comrade Sang said he admired local people’s fortitude and wished that they would soon overcome the aftermaths and return to normal life.

Asahi Mayor Tadanao Akechi briefed Comrade Sang about the city’s works to overcome consequences of the twin disasters, which killed 13 citizens of the city, with two others missing and an estimated loss of 17 billion JPY (US$211.7 million).

After meeting with the municipal authorities, Mr. Sang visited and presented gifts to some Japanese families, who are staying in shelters in the Ioka park of the city.

The same day, the Vietnam Communist Party Politburo member visited Hachiken village, where was hit by two 7.6m tsunamis on Mar. 11, paying homage to the victims of the disasters.