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Vietnamese party chief meets japanese emperor

HANOI - The Japanese government held an official ceremony in Tokyo on 3 October to welcome General Secretary Nong Duc Manh. The Vietnamese general secretary began an official visit to Japan at the invitation of Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

After the welcoming ceremony, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh paid a courtesy visit to Emperor Akihito. The party leader thanked the emperor for warm welcome for the Vietnamese delegation's visit to Japan. He also expressed his good impressions of Japan and the Japanese people. He stressed that the similarities in culture and history of the two countries have created a firm basis for their mutual understanding. Emperor Akihito welcomed the Vietnamese party leader. He expressed his interest in Vietnam's unique traditional culture. The emperor also expressed his pleasure at the fine development of bilateral relations. He wished Vietnam and its people prosperity and happiness.

General Secretary Nong Duc Manh invited the Japanese emperor, empress, and other members of the Japanese royal family to visit Vietnam. The emperor accepted the invitation with pleasure. Later the same day, talks were held between General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The two leaders informed one another of the situations in their respective countries and exchanged views on measures to boost the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in the coming period. They also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Reviewing the Vietnam-Japan relationship since the two countries established diplomatic ties, the two sides were satisfied at the rapid development of cooperative ties between the two countries in various fields in the recent past, thus meeting the fundamental interests and aspirations of the two peoples and contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and the world at large. The two sides agreed to continue building friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries in the spirit of trusting partnership and long-lasting stability in the new century.

General Secretary Nong Duc Manh thanked the Japanese government and people for their assistance with Vietnam's renovation process. He noted the high value of the Japanese government's Official Development Assistance ODA to Vietnam over the past years. He also spoke of orientations to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in the current period. He stressed that the two sides' efforts to accelerate economic, commercial, education, training, scientific, and technical cooperation have laid a solid foundation for reliable partnership and long-term stability between the two countries. He added that Vietnam attaches importance to Japan's ODA and Japanese businesses' investment capital in Vietnam and Vietnam would strive to improve the investment environment. The early signing of an agreement on investment encouragement and protection between the two countries will facilitate operations of investors. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh also said he hoped that Japan would take positive measures to encourage Japanese investors to invest in Vietnam. Regarding Vietnam's external relations, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh reiterated that Vietnam persists in its open foreign policy of diversifying multi-lateral relations and giving priorities to neighbouring countries and countries in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region while paying attention to expanding relations with major countries and international economic and political centres, as well as countries in other regions for peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

Prime Minister Koizumi highlighted the current renovation process of the Vietnamese people and affirmed that Japan will continue to actively support Vietnam's renovation policy by promoting cooperation with, investment in, and assistance to Vietnam. He stated that Japan has been assisting with the deep reform in Vietnam. He also stressed Japan's support for Vietnam's renovation process and expressed his hope that Vietnam will put Japan's Official Development Assistance into good use and continue improving the economic environment for more Japanese investment in Vietnam. Prime Minister Koizumi also expressed his wish that the two sides would sign an agreement on investment guarantees this year to further boost economic cooperation between the two countries. He also confirmed that Japan will actively support Vietnam's bid to join the World Trade Organization.

Also on the same day, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and his entourage met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Watanuki Tamisuke and Speaker of the House of Councillors Kurata Hiroyuki. Later, he also met with representatives of the Nihon Keidanren and the Japanese business community. In the evening, Prime Minister Koizumi held a banquet in honour of General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and his entourage.

Radio Voice Of Vietnam - October 4, 2002.