Japanese House of Representatives Speaker Tamisuke Watanuki, who is visiting Vietnam, apparently referred to China as a ''threat'' to the country in a meeting with the chairman of the National Assembly on Thursday.

''I pay my respects to Vietnam as it is maintaining its independence while a major power and the threat it poses exist so close to the country,'' Watanuki was quoted as telling National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An by officials of the Japanese Embassy.

The comment was taken as referring to China, political analysts said, which now rivals Japan as one of Vietnam's main financial supporters after recent improvements in bilateral relations.

An quoted the words of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of present-day Vietnam, in response to Watanuki and said, ''There is nothing so precious as independence and freedom.''

Watanuki arrived in Hanoi on Wednesday for talks with Vietnamese leaders on Japan's official development assistance (ODA) and Vietnam's political and fiscal reforms.

An expressed gratitude to Japan as the largest donor nation to Vietnam. He said his country is willing to learn from Japan's Diet system as the Vietnamese National Assembly revised its Constitution last year to reinforce the legal functions of the assembly and democratize it.

He also expressed support for Japan becoming a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.

Following the meeting with An, Watanuki handed over a personal letter from Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

Khai was quoted as telling Watanuki, ''You will realize how useful Japan's ODA is if you see the ports and roads in regional areas.''

Watanuki replied that he hopes Vietnam will establish an appropriate investment environment.

Watanuki earlier told An he had also brought a personal letter from Koizumi for the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, Nong Duc Manh, and emphasized the importance of reinforcing various bilateral ties.