Seminar promotes Vietnam-Japan culture, trade exchanges

Can Tho (VNA) – The Vietnam-Japan culture exchange seminar was held in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 3, covering a wide range of issues, from politics-diplomacy to culture, education-training, tourism and trade cooperation.

The event was part of the 4th Vietnam-Japan culture and trade exchange programme taking place in Can Tho city from November 2-4.

Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam affirmed that Japan is a large trade, investment and tourism partner of Vietnam in general and Can Tho city in particular; however, bilateral cooperation is still a far cry from potential and strengths of both sides.

He stated that the city has worked to complete mechanisms and improve business climate to fortify collaboration with Japan in prioritised sectors of high-tech agriculture and tourism.

Prof.Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, said that the university and Japanese businesses and individuals are running a line-up of research projects on renewing technologies and machines used in agriculture.

“Yanmar Agriculture Research Institute Vietnam” and “Centre for Advanced Technology Research and Renovation” are standout cooperative models that have shown their significant roles in increasing productivity and reducing costs and post-harvest loss in the agricultural sector in the Mekong Delta, he noted.

Regarding a Japan-funded project to upgrade Can Tho University, Prof. Dr. Tsunoda Manabu, senior consultant of the project, said that Japan will support the Vietnamese university in bettering its capacity in training, scientific research and technology transfer in agriculture and environment.

Mentioning opportunities and challenges for Vietnam’s exports of farm produce and aquatic products to Japan when the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) takes effect, Dr. Pham Thi Bach Tuyet from Saigon University said that Vietnamese firms will enjoy preferential tax lines but they need to improve quality and product brands to gain firm foothold in this fastidious market.

On tourism, Nguyen Nguyen Phong from Ho Chi Minh City Open University laid stress on the “farmtrip” model, saying that it is favoured by many Japanese tourists who are fond of environmentally friendly tourism and working during their trips.-VNA