 |
| Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu received Mr. Kato Hiroki, Vice President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association of Sakai City, Japan. |
At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu highly appreciated Mr. Kato's positive and consistent contributions in connecting and promoting cooperation between the city of Sakai and various localities in Vietnam, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, Quang Ninh, Binh Dinh… through practical activities in the fields of economy, education, culture, labour, and people-to-people exchanges. In particular, the successful organization of the Hoi An–Japan Cultural Exchange Festival in Sakai in 2014 left a profound mark on the friendship between the peoples of the two countries.
The Deputy Minister affirmed that Japan is currently one of Vietnam's most important economic partners: leading in ODA and labour cooperation, ranking third in investment and tourism, and fourth in trade. Cultural exchange, human resources cooperation, and local-to-local connections have continued to expand and develop in an effective and substantive manner. During the recent visit to Vietnam by Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba, the two sides agreed to establish a new pillar of cooperation in science – technology and innovation, aiming for sustainable development.
In this context, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu proposed that Mr. Kato continue to promote his role as a bridge, enhancing cooperation between the localities of the two countries, with a focus on areas where Vietnam has demand and Japan has strengths, such as high technology, digital transformation, smart agriculture, clean energy, and environment.
The Deputy Minister also requested Mr. Kato to closely coordinate with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka in preparing for Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long's working programme on the occasion of Vietnam Day at EXPO Osaka 2025 (on September 9); and at the same time, to encourage the authorities and businesses in the Kansai region to actively participate in the first High-Level Conference between Vietnamese and Japanese Local Authorities, expected to be held in Quang Ninh on November 4, with the attendance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and senior Japanese leaders.
On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu expressed his sincere thanks to Mr. Kato Hiroki and the Sakai Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association for their tireless efforts in promoting people-to-people ties and supporting the Vietnamese community in Sakai.
In his remarks, Mr. Kato Hiroki extended his deep gratitude for the support from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies during the implementation of cooperation programmes between Sakai and Vietnamese localities. He affirmed his continued commitment to promoting substantive cooperation between Sakai in particular, and Japanese localities in general, and Vietnam, especially in areas such as human resource exchange, educational and training development, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, adaptation to population aging, and sustainable development at the local level.
Mr. Kato also pledged to work closely with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka to enhance Vietnam's presence and voice in the Kansai region, as well as to mobilize broad participation from Japanese partners in upcoming key activities.
 |
| At the meeting, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu highly appreciated Mr. Kato's positive and consistent contributions in connecting and promoting cooperation between the city of Sakai and various localities in Vietnam. |
