Addressing an international conference on African development in Tokyo, Japan, on May 29, Mr Hai said that Vietnam is carrying out the 2004-2010 Vietnam-Africa Action Plan in specific cooperation areas.

Vietnam is willing to share experiences and ideas with a view to promoting economic growth in Africa, and participate in the New Partnership for Africa ’s Development (NEPAD) initiative in the areas of agriculture, healthcare, education, science and technology, he said.

The deputy PM affirmed Vietnam’s support for the multilateral cooperation models, including 2+1 and 3+1 models that are appropriate for both Vietnam and African countries. Vietnam also supports the implementation of the model “Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP)” and the tripartite cooperation model between Vietnam, Japan and an African country as a pilot programme in the agriculture and industrial areas.

Mr Hai said Vietnam welcomes and attaches importance to cooperating with Japan in carrying out the NEPAD initiative to help African countries successfully implement the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He highlighted Vietnam’s economic achievements over the past 20 years, noting that the country has successfully achieved many MDGs. Its poverty rate fell to 14.8 percent in 2007 from 58 percent in 1993, literacy rate reached 95 percent, 75 percent of the rural population got access to safe water, and Internet users accounted for 21.8 percent of the population.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Deputy PM Hai met with Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura who praised Vietnam’s participation in the event as well as its role in implementing the tripartite cooperation model between Japan, Vietnam and an African nation.

The deputy PM also met with leaders of African countries, including Central Africa and Madagascar.