The fair, the largest of its kind, was organised for the first time in Japan with the assistance of the Asian Trade Promotion Forum (ATPF), the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and many Japanese businesses and units.

The Vietnamese Trade Ministry introduced the potential for cooperation with Viet Nam and the country's economic achievements at a pavillion during the fair. The ministry also helped members of the Viet Nam Textiles and Garments Corporation (Vinatex)  as well as tens of Vietnamese enterprises display their products.

Talking with a Vietnam News Agency reporter on the sidelines of the fair, Vietnamese commercial counsellor Nguyen Trung Dung said that two-way trade value is expected to reach 741.3 billion JPY (approximately 6.5 billion USD) this year, with around 406.9 billion JPY coming from Viet Nam 's exports. Although Japan is said to be a strict market this year, Vietnamese goods have accounted for 0.83 percent of Japan 's marketshare. Viet Nam 's major export items are frozen shrimp, green tea, coffee, vegetables and fruits, rice and coal. Viet Nam 's 2004 export revenues are estimated to rise by around 18 percent year on year.

In 2004, the Vietnamese ministries of trade, and planning and investment, Vietnam Airlines and representative offices in Japan have collaborated with Japanese relevant sectors and enterprises to organise 14 fairs and festivals and tens of seminars on investment and trade in many Japanese prefectures. Viet Nam-Japan trade value is expected to reach 7 billion USD next year.-Enditem

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy FM Dung had attended a meeting of senior officials of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Viet Nam and a meeting of senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (SOM-ASEAN) .

The conference is the first of its kind since the ASEAN and Chinese leaders signed the joint declaration in 2002. Participant countries exchanged views on the situation in the East Sea and the implementation of the DOC They agreed that both the ASEAN and China have made great efforts to implement the DOC, but the implementation is still coming along slowly.

Addressing the conference, Deputy FM Dung said Viet Nam, a responsible member and one of the countries to initiate the signing of the DOC, did and is doing its best to contribute to peace and stability in the region, strictly implement the DOC and is ready to join efforts with other ASEAN countries and China to find the most effective measures for the implementation.

Dung said that, for early implementation of the DOC, it is necessary to focus on implementing measures to build confidence through suitable cooperative activities in less sensitive areas. He noted a number of recent developments in the East Sea, expressing Viet Nam's deep concern about the signing of separate agreements by some countries without referring to the opinions nor gaining the consensus of concerned parties. He said that this was contrary to the spirit of the DOC, and could create a dangerous precedence and badly affect peace and stability in the region.

Viet Nam urgently asked concerned countries to immediately stop the implementation of  these agreements, and do not to let similar activities re-occur.-Enditem

Dung was elected chairman of the 27th meeting of senior officials of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO), held in Bangkok from Dec. 1-3. Participants discussed 44 matters which will be submitted to the 40th meeting of ministers of education of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 SEAMEO is a regional cooperation organisation within ASEAN countries, which, with support from other nations, aims to improve the quality of education and training in Southeast Asia .

At the next meeting, Norway will become the seventh member of the SEAMEO, in which Canada , Australia , New Zealand , Holland , Germany and France are partners.-Enditem

Addressing the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Vientiane on Saturday, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad said that the TAC accession by seven countries outside the region is a steady reaffirmation of the regional group's relevance.

At this time, the region continues to face challenges, including geopolitical uncertainties, terrorism, oil price surge, and the spread of communicable diseases, he said, adding that at the 10th ASEAN Summit in Vientiane early next week, ASEAN leaders will adopt the Plan of Action on the ASEAN Security Community.