Da Nang (VNA) ♓– The “Da Nang – Japan Meeting” conference on prospects for cooperation after the two countries upgrade their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World was held in the central city of Da Nang on July 5.

Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Chi Cuong said Da Nang, one of the five centrally-run cities of Vietnam, is striving to become one of the major socio-economic centres of the country and Southeast Asia in term of start-ups, innovation, tourism, trade, finance, logistics, high-tech industries, information technology, supporting industries, and smart city, among others. Towards that goal, the city considers integration and connectivity with the region and the world as one of the most effective ways to boost development, the official said, stressing that Da Nang has identified Japan as one of the potential markets that can provide the growth resources that Da Nang needs. The city's leadership has always advocated and facilitated partnership across the fields with Japanese organisations, localities and businesses, he said. Cuong highlighted that Da Nang has established official friendship and cooperation with four Japanese cities - Kawasaki, Sakai, Yokohama, Kisarazu - and cooperative relations with 20 other provinces and cities. Japan is the biggest investor in Da Nang in terms of registered investment capital, with more than 1.14 billion USD in 261 projects. Last year, Da Nang exported 650 million USD worth of goods to Japan and imported 50 million USD worth of products from the East Asian country. The conference was held with the aim of boosting connectivity and attract investment in the fields of high-tech industry, digital technology, green technology, electronics, microchips and semiconductors, human resources, and more, he affirmed. Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said that the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world in 2023, and it is important that the two countries concretise the partnership into extensive cooperation activities in many fields. The ambassador stated that the Japanese government supports the "Japan-Vietnam Joint Initiative" programme, a cooperation framework between the two governments and businesses that was launched in March 2024 with focus on expanding investment in high-tech and information technology and human resources development. Participants at the event introduced potential, strengths, investment climate and policies of the two sides in several areas./.