On the afternoon of August 8, Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man attended the Japan - Mekong Delta Meeting Conference in Can Tho City. Also attending was Central Party Committee member, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung.
Speaking at the conference, Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that today's conference is an important event to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world between Vietnam and Japan.
The National Assembly Chairman stated that the Vietnam - Japan relationship is a successful model of bilateral cooperation, built on the foundation of more than 50 years of political trust, cultural similarities and historical connection.
According to National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, there are currently more than 2,500 Japanese enterprises operating in Vietnam and a community of more than 600,000 Vietnamese people in Japan.
The National Assembly Chairman said that despite its great potential, the Mekong Delta is facing many serious challenges, affecting sustainable development: Impact of climate change; Limited human resources; Weak transport and connectivity infrastructure; Lack of supporting industrial ecosystems; Lack of regional connectivity, etc.
Emphasizing that Vietnam always identifies Japan as a leading strategic partner, especially in the fields of economy, investment and technology transfer, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said that Vietnam appreciates Japan's great contributions through ODA projects, such as Can Tho Bridge - a symbol of the friendship between the two countries, Can Tho University upgrade project and many other projects in the Mekong Delta provinces.
The National Assembly Chairman informed that after the process of rearranging administrative units, localities in the Mekong Delta have achieved outstanding advantages, creating new momentum for economic development and attracting investment. The streamlining of the government apparatus and merger of district and commune-level administrative units have brought about positive changes.
The National Assembly Chairman affirmed that the National Assembly and Government of Vietnam always put people at the center, not sacrifice progress and social justice to pursue economic growth alone.
The National Assembly Chairman called on Japanese enterprises to actively participate in building sustainable value chains, contributing to the prosperous development of both sides.
