Japan is currently a leading trade and investment partner of Vietnam. The diplomatic and economic relations between Vietnam and Japan have developed comprehensively. Also, the two countries have grown into strategic partners. On the occasion of 38
th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relation establishment (September 21, 1973 – September 21, 2011), Vietnam Business Forum had an
interview with Mr Yasuaki Tanizaki, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam on the cooperative relations between the two countries. Dang Yen reports.
It has been nearly one year since I arrived in Vietnam and I enjoy my term here. I have been impressed to see the relationship between Vietnam and Japan is genuinely successful. The Japanese people are interested in strengthening this relationship, so we have many things to do in the future.
Besides, all of the Vietnamese people I have met so far look very happy. I wondered why they look so happy and think that one of the reasons is that the Vietnamese society as a whole is dynamically developing and the people can trust their future. The Vietnamese people widely share the belief that tommorow can be better and happier than today. This is quiet similar to what happened to the Japanese people when Japan had experienced great economic achievements in the past.
Vietnam and Japan have established an excellent relationship through a long period of time. One of the milestones is about 20 years ago when Japan decided to resume its ODA with high priority of supporting for Vietnam’s socio-economic development. This past 20 years of economic cooperation has strengthened the economic ties between the two countries, and ODA has been implemented efficiently in such.areas as industrial development and infrastructure projects.
The Government of Japan is determined to continue its support for Vietnam. The Government of Vietnam has set up the National Target of “Industrialization and Modernization” by the year 2020 and, in order to achieve that goal, Vietnam requires the large amount of public investment. Therefore, Japan will assist Vietnam reaching that goal by providing a part of public investment as well as other means of cooperation including human resource development. Providing education to young people is among our highest priorities to Vietnam because young Vietnamese people will make a crucial contribution to the country’s development.
As the top ODA donor for Vietnam, Japan has been strongly supporting Vietnam’s socio-economic development. There are
4 priority areas in Japan’s ODA policy to Vietnam.
First of all, Japan puts priority on financing socio-economic infrastructure projects such as road, port, airport and, in the long run, subway construction. These infrastructures are prerequisite for Vietnam’s industrialization.
Second, Japanese ODA also aims at mitigating income gap within Vietnam such as regional disparity. For example, Japan has been providing support for education and medication projects. Through these measures, Japan would like to help Vietnam adjust its economic inequality.
In addition, climate and environment protection are also among the Japanese ODA priorities to Vietnam. Environmental problems have arisen not only in Vietnam but also all over the world
. Strategies to deal with environmental issues are absolutely vital for Vietnam, which is experiencing a rapid economic growth, especially with a view to avoiding
water pollution and and metigating the negative impacts of climate change. Japan has made contribution to supporting the Vietnamese government in these issues.
Finally,
we also assist Vietnam in terms of capacity building. The area of cooperation includes fight against corruption and the establishment of the rule of law. Since these fields require up-to-date legal and other measures, the Government of Japan has provided many forms of assistance including the dispatchment of legal advisors.
Japan and Vietnam have been enjoying excellent relations, but there is still room for the further development of the bilateral ties. During my term as the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, I will certainly help to further boost the cooperation between the two countries.
For example, in terms of cultural exchange between the two countries, many Vietnamese people, particularly young people, in my view, are really interested in Japanese culture, particularly in music, films, fashion, and food. Nonetheless, opportunities to have such cultural experiences have not sufficiently been provided to meet the demand of the Vietnamese. Thus, the Embassy of Japan will furhter strive to deepen the cultural ties between Japan and Vietnam.
Vietnamese
