Vietnam consistently regards Japan as an important and long-term partner, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai told Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at their brief meeting on May 23, as part of his working visit to Japan to attend the 29th Future of Asia Forum, the Vietnam News Agency has reported.

Deputy PM Khai expressed his wish that the two nations will further work together to effectively implement their recently established comprehensive strategic partnership as well as important agreements and common perceptions between the two PMs.

PM Kishida affirmed his commitment to further promote the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership in a more effective and practical manner.

Earlier on the same day, Deputy PM Khai received President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko.

Mr. Khai proposed Japan consider providing new ODA loans to Vietnam with more favorable lending conditions and simplified procedures, possibly in the form of budget support, to help the country carry out its large-scale strategic infrastructure development projects.

He also recommended the provision of ODA for projects in digital transformation, green transition and urban railway in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the continued implementation of those in high-quality human resources training and such new areas as green transition, among others.

Expressing satisfaction with the results of the ODA cooperation between the two countries in 2023 with a total volume of ¥100 billion  (over $636 million), Mr. Tanaka affirmed that JICA wishes to continue ODA cooperation in quality infrastructure projects in line with Vietnam's needs and legal regulations.

He also pledged to continue implementing joint projects in human resources training, digital transformation, green transition, semiconductors, and innovation.