(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and other Mekong leaders on Friday paid a courtesy visit to Japan’s Emperor Akihito and met with Tadamori Oshima, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, and Yamazaki Masaaki, Speaker of Japan’s House of Councilors.

Japan’s Emperor Akihito reiterated his support to further enhance cooperation between Japan and other Mekong countries for mutual development and for peace and stability in the region and the world. Prime Minister Dung said Japan’s economic growth is of great importance to Asia’s development and prosperity and praised Japan’s contribution to regional cooperation and growth.

Tadamori Oshima, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, said Japan has set up

Friendship Groups in the Senate with each Mekong country and the Mekong-Japan Friendship Group in April to foster ties between Japan and these countries. Prime Minister Dung hailed the effective cooperation between Japan and Mekong over the past time, saying it has contributed to developing socio-economic infrastructure and improving the business environment, and narrow development gaps between regional countries.

Yamazaki Masaaki, Speaker of Japan’s House of Councilors, said Japan’s Diet will further boost exchanges between the parliaments and senators of Japan and ASEAN countries. Prime Minister Dung hailed Japan’s valuable support for Vietnam over the past years in infrastructure development, energy, human resources training, and the environment as well as Mr. Yamazaki Masaaki’s personal contribution to Vietnamese-Japanese relationship.