On the same day, the prime minister attended the Japan-Vietnam high-level economic policy dialogue that focused on integration and development.
This is Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s first visit to Japan as head of the Vietnamese government and also the first time Vietnam has attended the G7 Summit.
During his stay in Japan, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the Japan-Vietnam high-level economic policy dialogue with businesses from the two countries. The Vietnamese PM highlighted the importance of foreign firms to the economy. He added Vietnam was keen to encourage Japanese firms to invest in electronics, agricultural processing, seafood, agricultural machinery; shipbuilding; industrial and car components in Vietnam, and infrastructure development projects in the form of public-private partnerships and to look at the sell-off of state firms through the equitisation process.
"It’s very important to build an integrous government. We’re striving to better the investment environment to enable Vietnam to become one of ASEAN’s top four countries during in the 2016-2017 period. We have already shortened the time of issuing the investment business licences from 45 to only 15 days and are trying to make it", said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The Vietnamese prime minister also stated that Vietnam wants to diversify its export products, besides mango, lychee and dragon FRUIT to include fish and seafood, consumer goods, and components. Hi-tech Japanese products obviously continue to remain popular in Vietnam.
As both countries are members of the TPP Agreement, Japan-Vietnam bilateral trade turnover could increase 3-fold to 60 billion US dollar in the next 4 years. Concerning tourism, PM Phuc suggested that the two countries should pave the way to boost the number of visitors up to 1.5 million. The PM suggested opening more direct flight routes and Japan should simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese visitors.
"One of the important elements boosting mutual development between Japan and Vietnam is that the 2 countries share some similar features of Asian culture. Trade between Japan and Vietnam dates back to the 15th century and continues to this day, the Vietnamese government supports a Japan that pursues peace. The profound understand between us set the foundation to foster our relations, especially in trade and investment. And businesses are themselves the pioneers in these fields", said said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
The Vietnamese leader reiterated a quote of the former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama that the Japan-Vietnam relations had been built upon many similarities. He added that he would soon visit the I-sê-si-ma Temple to know more of Japanese values and culture.
