Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi made the remark at a meeting with Deputy Standing Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee Tat Thanh Cang in the city on November 19.

 

He said the Japanese government, localities and businesses hope to push ahead with cooperation with Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular in all fields, adding that the rapid increase in the number of Japanese investors in the city over the past time demonstrates the Japanese side’s wish for bilateral stronger cooperation.

 

According to Kishi, Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) projects, including transport infrastructure ones, are being carried out on progress and with quality in HCM City.

 

Cang proposed that Japan continue supporting the city to implement projects using Japanese ODA, especially the Ben Thanh metro station and the metro line 3A connecting the city with southern Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces.

 

He expressed his wish for stronger collaboration with Japan in various fields from health, culture, and education to trade, investment and hi-tech agriculture.

 

The official urged Japan to speed up the implementation of the Cho Ray hospital project, organise a Vietnamese cultural week in Japan, and support human resources training at electronic chip production factories.

 

Local authorities are willing to create the best conditions for Japanese firms to invest in development projects in the city, and pledged to closely work with enterprise to ensure the efficiency of ODA-funded projects, he said.