Ho Chi Minh City has established a cooperative relationship with the Japanese prefecture of Nagano, as part of an ongoing visit to Japan by high-ranking city officials.

Vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem signed a deal with the Governor of Nagano Shuichi Abe to mark the two parties’ cooperation at a ceremony held in Nagano on Monday.

The agreement was made within the framework of an ongoing business trip to Japan by a city delegation led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dinh La Thang, from April 6 to 16.

The cooperation will focus on the fields of high-tech agriculture, manufacturing, engineering and supporting industry, among others.

With Nagano’s advantages in technology and Ho Chi Minh City’s active economy, the collaboration is expected to be very productive, according to Governor Abe.

Regarding their existing ties in tourism, the Japanese official praised Ho Chi Minh City’s potential, evidenced by over 5.3 million visitors in 2016, making it an ideal partner for Nagano, one of Japan’s major tourism hubs.

Leaders of the two localities clap their hands during the ceremony on April 10, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Aside from seeking new markets and investment opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City, the Japanese prefecture welcomes Vietnamese students and businesses to work and learn from its experience.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary Thang stated that the two regions had multiple similarities, believing that the multi-faceted cooperation would be effective and beneficial for both sets of local citizens.

The first step is to increase the number of businesses from Nagano operating in Ho Chi Minh City, Thang said.

Among the 1,001 Japanese investors in Ho Chi Minh City, only 12 are from Nagano, the official elaborated.

The two leaders agreed on the establishment of specialized units to assist and encourage local enterprises to take part in the bilateral relationship.

The two sides will maintain close contact via embassies and consulates in order to be updated on the cooperation’s progress.

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