Vietnamese PM to visit Japan to boost ties

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will visit Japan from October 30 to November 2 at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda to boost bilateral ties, announced the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday. During the visit, the Vietnamese leader is expected to hold talks with Japanese officials on measures to boost economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as tourist, cultural and educational ties aimed at bringing the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership to the level with both practical and efficient results, said MOFA. The two sides will be expected to review implementations of agreements in the Vietnam-Japan joint statement signed in October 2010, including promotion of the comprehensive partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia. The Vietnam-Japan cooperation has finely developed over the years with two-way trade turnover in 2010 reaching 16 billion U.S. dollars, up 24 percent year-on-year, said MOFA.