Hagiuda made the statement at a meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, within the framework of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Japan.

In the past time, Japanese businesses, especially those operating in the field of automobile manufacturing, have suffered negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The Japanese minister said he hoped that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade would continue to accompany and support Japanese businesses investing in Vietnam to overcome difficulties and ensure the maintenance of the supply chains to best serve production and business activities given the complicated developments of the pandemic.

Dien noted with pleasure that trade turnover between the two countries has increased again, with a growth rate of 6.4 percent in the first ten months of this year compared to a decline of nearly 1 percent of last year, adding that the Vietnam-Japan trade balance has been still kept.

He suggested Hagiuda facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese goods in distribution channels in Japan, as well as support Vietnamese firms taking part in the supply chains of Japanese enterprises to maintain the balance of trade.

The Vietnamese government has applied a strategy on safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that many policies were issued to support businesses in terms of tax, insurance and labour to support post-pandemic recovery. These measures have been helping enterprises and foreign investors in Vietnam, including Japanese investors, recover strongly, Dien added.

Regarding industrial development and digital economy, Dien said that Vietnam is implementing a digital transformation strategy as well as focusing on developing foundation industries and supporting industries.

Vietnam considers Japan a leading developed country with a lot of experience in the above fields, he said, suggesting Japan provide more new ODA support packages for the Southeast Asian country to develop digital economic infrastructure and assisting it in the development of foundation and supporting industries.

Agreeing with Dien’s proposals, Haguida emphasised that Japan will continue to promote cooperation with Vietnam in the field of digital transformation.

Japan will also strengthen collaboration to improve industrial competitiveness of Vietnam through technology transfer, including effectively realising the "Vietnam-Japan Industry Innovation Cooperation Partnership" initiative, he said.

Related to cooperation within the multilateral framework, the two ministers pledged to continue working closely in the enforcement of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

They affirmed that the cooperation relationship in the fields of trade, industry and energy between Vietnam and Japan in the coming time will become closer and more effective, continuing to make an important contribution to the good development of the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries.