On December 7 from 10:55 a.m. for approximately 20 minutes, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Sinh HUNG, President of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who was invited to Japan by Mr. Kenji Hirata, President of the House of Councillors, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister of Japan. An overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. At the start of the meeting, Prime Minister Noda welcomed National Assembly President HUNG to Japan and said that he was pleased to see the comprehensive deepening and expansion of the Japan-Viet Nam "strategic partnership". Remarking that 2013 will be the "Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Year," Prime Minister Noda expressed the desire to further enhance friendly relations.
   
   
2. In response, National Assembly President HUNG noted that although it has been just under 40 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam, the bilateral relationship had continuously developed, and the two countries had been able to construct a strategic partnership. He expressed the hope that this relationship would be improved further.
   
   
3. Concerning cooperation in the field of the economy, Prime Minister Noda said that he wanted to further promote investment and trade and Japan would continue to support economic development in Viet Nam. National Assembly President HUNG stated his hope for support toward the continuation of the modernization and industrialization processes currently underway in Viet Nam.