Vietnam hopes for Japan’s further support in hi-tech agriculture and rural development, said Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh. 

He made the request at a working session with Governor of the Ibaraki prefecture Masaru Hashimoto and Chairman of the Ibaraki chapter of Japan Agriculture Cooperatives Group Toyokuni Kakurai, in Ibaraki on August 20. 

Thanh conveyed President Truong Tan Sang’s invitation to the governor to visit Vietnam in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation across the board. 

The deputy minister suggested the Japanese side assist Vietnam in developing new crop varieties resistant to drought, flood and pests, as well as in cultivating and post-harvest techniques for farm produce. 
Hashimoto said he will lead a 70-strong business delegation to Vietnam in early October, during which they will work with Vietnamese partners on the transfer of technology used in agriculture. 

Japan will back sci-tech coordination with Vietnam, Hashimoto noted firmly, adding that he hopes the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology will send scientists to Ibaraki to join in studies and hi-tech production. 
On the front line of embracing technological advances, Ibaraki has recorded the second largest output of agricultural products in Japan.