He expressed his wish at his meetings on March 19 with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Ishii and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka, as part of his trip to the East Asian nation.

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Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. Photo: Vietnam+

Speaking highly of the Vietnam-Japan relations as well as the ties between HCM City and Japanese localities, which are in the most flourishing period ever, Nhan thanked Japan for backing Vietnam and its Southern hub in the past years.

He noted that Japanese support in infrastructure is crucial to HCM City, a city which is expected to be home to 15 million people by 2030 and contributing 22 percent of the national gross domestic product, as transport and water drainage facilities are hampering the city’s development.

After the two countries become strategic partners, they have seen thriving cooperation in various fields, he said, adding that Can Tho and Nhat Tan bridges are vivid illustrations of the tight collaboration.

Lauding HCM City’s role in the national economy, the Japanese officials said that Japan stands ready to help the city build high-quality infrastructure.

The same day, Nhan went to Ibaraki prefecture, where he visited Tsukuba University and Tsukuba science city.

Source: VNA