(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Friday was given a cordial welcome by the Japanese government, royal family and business community. In the afternoon, Mr. Dung and other leaders from Mekong nations attended a tea ceremony hosted by Japanese Emperor Akihito in the Royal Palace. The PM reiterated the flourishing relations between Vietnam and Japan, which has been raised to a strategic partnership. Both countries agreed to observe 2013 as Friendship Year to mark the 40^th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. PM Dung said that the state, government and people of Vietnam hope to receive the Emperor, his wife and other royal family members on future visits to Vietnam. In the afternoon, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda gave a banquet in honor of PM Dung and the leaders of other other Mekong nations, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Vietnamese Prime Minister is expected to join in discussions at the 4^th Mekong-Japan Summit, which will officially open on Saturday in Tokyo. High on agenda will be Tokyo Strategy and detailed measures to promote Mekong-Japan cooperation during the 2013-2015 period.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (Photo: Duc Tam - VNA)

The Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks on Thursday with Japanese political and economic leaders to boost the strategic partnership between the two nations. At receptions for former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and members of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, Mr. Dung said that Vietnam treasures and wants to strengthen cooperative relations with Japan in human resource training, the completion of market economy institutions, and infrastructure development. The former Japanese Prime Minister praised the friendship and assistance of the Vietnamese Government and people during Japan’s efforts to reconstruct the country following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Mr. Hatoyama expressed his belief that bilateral relations will continue to develop comprehensively in the implementation of projects undertaken by the two sides.

The same day, Mr. Dung met with leaders of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Japan’s International Friendship Exchange Council, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.