(VOVWORLD) - Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on Tuesday met with students of the Vietnam-Japan University (VJU) under the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, a symbol of human resource development projects between Japan and ASEAN, as part of his official visit to Vietnam.
 Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshide meets with students of the Vietnam-Japan University (Source: VNA) |
In his speech themed “Building together the future of Indo-Pacific,” PM Suga affirmed that ASEAN and Japan are equal partners and friends, with the two supporting each other by working side by side, learning from one another and working together in pursuit of growth.
He said Japan will never forget ASEAN's assistance for Japan when the the country was hit by a tsunami nearly 10 years ago.
Suga said he was deeply moved when Vietnam sent 1.2 million face masks to Japan under the circumstances of many countries suffering from shortages of medical supplies.
Japan has been providing medical supplies and equipment in the form of grant aid, and assisting human resource development with a view to contributing to strengthening health and medical care systems and improving public health in ASEAN.
Moreover, Japan and ASEAN are currently working together towards the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for public health emergencies and emerging diseases with the aim to strengthen ASEAN's response capacity to infectious diseases, he stated.
PM Suga added that his country has been carrying out the "WA Project" to foster cultural exchange between Japan and ASEAN through fine arts and the Japanese language.
He invited students of VJU to come and visit Japan for employment, research, business trips and other purposes.
“I myself will exert every effort and treasure the invaluable friendship with ASEAN. As good friends, let us put in the effort, working hand in hand, to move forward to accomplish a free, open and more prosperous Indo-Pacific,” the PM added.