Japan will continue to support Vietnam in implementing its industrialization and modernization, a Japanese senior official said.

Visiting Japanese Minister of State in charge of Science and Technology Policy, Ocean Policy and Territory Integrity, Information Technology Policy, and Space Policy Yamamoto Ichita made the statement at a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on Tuesday.

The Japanese minister also said Japan always attaches importance to its strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh suggested that besides helping Vietnam implement its industrialization strategy,  Japan should boost cooperation with Vietnam in other fields including science and technology, and human resources training.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh and his guest also discussed regional and international issues of common concern, agreeing to further boost mutual collaboration at multilateral forums.

Expressing their delight at the fine development of Vietnam-Japan relations in the past years, both host and guest agreed to efficiently carry out agreements reached during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Japan last December.

At talks with PM Dung during that visit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced an official development assistance (ODA) package of 100 billion JPY (US$1 billion) for Vietnam.