Pham Quang Hung, head of the MOIT’s International Education Development, said the number of Vietnam students studying in Japan has grown rapidly in recent years. Most of them tried to stay in the country after they graduated or completed their courses of study. This has increased the number of illegal Vietnamese immigrants and crimes in Japan.

Around 60,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in Japan. The number of students in universities makes up only 7-8% while others come to learn the Japanese language.

For his part, Ambassador Umeda Kunio maintained that measures should be devised to control students and trainees in Japan to promote the Vietnamese people’s image.

Japan will control the granting of visa for Vietnamese citizens, but still ensure the rights of those who have legitimate aspirations for studying and working in the country.

MOIT Minister Phung Xuan Nha in turn said Vietnam will strengthen state governance on international study consulting services, check all overseas study consulting firms and help citizens realize inaccurate information.

The MOIT on February 9 sent an official document to provinces and cities asking them to enhance the management of international study consulting services to improve the quality of overseas study.

Earlier, Japan informed students from five countries – China, Vietnam, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka -that they will be imposed stricter immigrant policies as from Mid-March 2017.