Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met briefly with H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on the morning of November 6 and then held a meeting with him again for about 20 minutes from 3:30 p.m. (local time) in a bilateral conference room at the National Convention Center during his visit to Laos to attend the ninth Summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). The overview of the meetings is as follows.

1. Noting next year marking a "Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Year," Prime Minister Noda expressed hope to further deepen and expand the "Strategic Partnership" between the two countries as well as Japan-Mekong cooperation and said that Japan would continue to cooperate with Viet Nam for its social and economic development through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other means. In response, Prime Minister Dung said that progress had been made recently in relations between the two countries, that he regarded Japan highly as a nation strategically important for Viet Nam and that he would aim for further development of the bilateral relationship. He also expressed his gratitude for Japan's assistance to date, adding that he would like to further deepen cooperation between the two governments and that he was working to improve the investment environment in Viet Nam to promote bilateral cooperation, including through investment from Japanese businesses. He also stated that through these efforts, he hoped to develop the strategic partnership between the two countries into a long, sustainable one.
   
   
2. Prime Minister Noda said Japan would extend a new yen loan worth 97.9 billion yen (about $1.2 billion) in response to Viet Nam's request. Prime Minister Dung expressed his gratitude again for support from Japan.
   
   
3. Prime Minister Noda explained Japan's position concerning relations with China, saying the relationship between the two countries was one of the most important bilateral relationships for Japan, that in the present situation involving the two countries, Japan had consistently acted calmly from the beginning and that, as a responsible nation in the Asia-Pacific region, it would continue contributing to regional peace and prosperity. Furthermore, both leaders also exchanged views on East Asia, including Japan-ASEAN relations.