On behalf of Minister Huynh Thanh Dat, the Deputy Minister welcomed and thanked Mr. Tokai Kisaburo and the delegation for visiting and working with the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The Deputy Minister said that the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan over the past 50 years have been continuously expanded and developed rapidly in many fields, especially in the field of science and technology. The relationship between the two sides is connected through the exchange of human resources in all fields. There are many Vietnamese people studying in Japan who are currently holding important positions in ministries, branches, universities, and research institutes in Vietnam and are an important bridge to promote the relationship between the two countries. Many Vietnamese scientists are currently continuing to work in Japan, actively contributing to the socio-economic development of Japan, as well as many Japanese experts who have been and are working in Vietnam.

To solve research problems in the two countries as well as globally, the Ministry of Science and Technology is ready to act as a focal point in exchanging medium and long-term human resources, sending Vietnamese scientists to work in Japan and vice versa, sending Japanese experts to work in Vietnam.

The Ministry of Science and Technology wishes to further strengthen and expand cooperation in scientific research, technology development and innovation, improve the capacity of research staffs at institutes, schools as well as relevant agencies; and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese scientists to participate in Japan's research cooperation funding programs.

The Deputy Minister thanked Mr. Tokai Kisaburo for always paying attention, sharing, supporting and promoting cooperation activities in science, technology and innovation with Vietnam, and hoped that he would continue to pay attention, support and further promote the cooperative relationship with Vietnam in a number of areas of mutual interest.

In order for the Vietnam - Japan relationship to continue to develop more effectively, the Deputy Minister suggested continuing to promote cooperation in areas, such as space technology, semiconductors, microchips, urban issues and disasters occurring in urban areas, such as waste treatment, wastewater, pollution, restructuring of the transport system... Besides, it is necessary to further strengthen cooperation in issues that Vietnam faces many times and has experiences in solving, such as tropical diseases, infectious diseases, climate change, rising sea levels, salinity, and etc.