Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam and Japan shouldpioneer in speeding up the signing of the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as the two nationshave a strategic partnership, traditional friendship and time-honoured trade,economic and investment ties, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

While receiving Japanese Minister of EconomicRevitalisation Toshimitsu Motegi in Hanoi on December 26, PM Phuc spoke highlyof the minister’s visit, saying that it contributes actively to boosting tradeexchanges between Vietnam and Japan as well as among Asia-Pacific economies.

Having expressed his delight at thecomprehensive and practical development of the Vietnam-Japan strategicpartnership, PM Phuc hailed the positive outcomes of an earlier working sessionbetween Minister Motegi and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran TuanAnh.

The two ministers discussed measures toeffectively address issues hindering bilateral cooperation, and reachedconsensus on key issues related to the CPTPP, thus promoting the trade exchangesamong stakeholders, particularly bilateral cooperative ties between Vietnam andJapan.

For his part, Motegi congratulated theGovernment and people of Vietnam on the successful hosting of the APEC 2017Economic Leaders’ Week, saying that the event enhanced the role and position ofVietnam on the international arena.

He emphasized the role of PM Nguyen Xuan Phucand Minister Tran Tuan Anh as well as related agencies of Vietnam in thenegating process in meetings within the framework of the APEC 2017 EconomicLeaders’ Week, thus helping to form the CPTPP.

The minister expressed his hope that Vietnam-Japancooperative ties will continue reaping more new fruits in the future.

Empowered by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,the Japanese minister is visiting Vietnam to discuss bilateral cooperationissues as well as matters related to the CPTPP so that the deal could be signedsoon, opening up new cooperation opportunities for its members.-VNA