Vietnamese PM meets former Japanese PM in Hanoi

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Monday met with former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama here during the latter's visit to Vietnam. The Vietnamese PM expressed pleasure at the bilateral cooperative relations and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan, which have recorded strong development despite the current global economic crisis and depression. Vietnam will try to its utmost to further promote the Vietnam- Japan comprehensive cooperation with more efficiency, for the interest of the two countries and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole, Dung said. Dung recommended the two sides focus efforts in boosting cooperation in infrastructure, energy, exploitation of rare earth, environment protection and culture exchange. He also expressed his wish that the former Japanese PM would continue making active contributions to fostering the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive cooperation. The former Japanese leader expressed his impression on achievements Vietnam has achieved, and highly spoke of the friendship and effective assistance that the Vietnamese people have reserved for Japanese victims of the March-11 earthquake and tsunami. Yukio also said that he believed the coming trip to Japan by Nguyen Tan Dung would contribute to facilitating the bilateral cooperation in depth and breadth, especially projects in Vietnam signed by the two sides, including construction of the atomic power plant, transport infrastructure, and construction of the high-tech zones. On the same day, Yukio was also received by To Huy Rua, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee's Commission for Organization. The two sides agreed to expand exchange of high-ranking visits by their leaders for mutual understanding and trust, and development of bilateral relations, and closely coordinate in holding events to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam- Japan relations in 2013.