Help Vietnamese firms join Japanese supply chain: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on the Japanese government to facilitate further participation of Vietnamese businesses in Japan’s global supply chain.

Chinh made the call at a Tuesday meeting in Hanoi with Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko, whose visit marks the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan ties.

The PM also pledged that Vietnam would enhance its investment environment through improvements in its legal framework, infrastructure and high-quality workforce.

Chinh said Japan can help Vietnam build a self-reliant and independent economy as it progresses towards modernization and industrialization.

Appreciating Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) aid for Vietnam, the PM urged agencies of the two countries to cooperate in more projects, including metro systems in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and the Cho Ray Hospital’s unit No.2.

In reply, the Japanese diplomat affirmed Japan would closely collaborate with Vietnam towards the latter achieving the goal of becoming a high income industrialized country by 2045.

It will also help with Vietnam’s green transition, climate change adaptation and digitalization processes, she said.

On the same day, at a meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, Yoko suggested that the two nations expand their cooperation to new areas including digitalization and green transition. The two nations are ready to upgrade their extensive strategic partnership to a new level, she added.

President Thuong urged the two countries to collaborate further in trade, economics, investment, workforce training, tourism, culture. among others.

As of September 20, Japan was the third biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with 5,203 investment projects with a total registered capital of $71.34 billion, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment. The first two are South Korea with $83 billion in 9,786 projects and Singapore with $72.98 billion in 3,384 projects.