Japan's House of Councilors continually gives priority to cooperation with Vietnam and wishes to facilitate exchanges and experience between the two legislatures, particularly in lawmaking, enforcement and mutual support at regional and global forums, President Yamazaki Masaaki has said.

President Yamazaki Masaaki (left) and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Meeting Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on December 8, Masaaki hailed the host’s visit to Japan last September as a key milestone that has opened up a new vision for bilateral ties, saying that high political trust lays a foundation for the development of ties between the two peoples.

He also expressed his support to Vietnam’s active and responsible contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Party chief, for his part, spoke highly of the Japanese upper house’s role in Vietnam-Japan links, especially its backing of the provision of official development assistance for Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Party and State consider Japan as one of the most significant and long-term partners, he said, expressing his wish for deepened bilateral extensive strategic partnership through exchanges between the Vietnamese NA and the Japanese House of Councilors, and between agencies bilaterally and multilaterally.

In a meeting with head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission and Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group To Huy Rua the same day, Masaaki lauded the two parliamentary friendship groups for promoting the two legislatures’ ties in particular.

Rua wished that the two groups will facilitate exchanges, jointly oversee the implementation of signed agreements and work closely together at the international Inter-parliamentary and regional forums.

Japan top legislator vows to do more for partnership with Vietnam

President of Japan's House of Councilors Yamazaki Masaaki pledged to make more contributions to the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan while meeting with President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi on December 8.

The upper house leader said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s selection of Vietnam as the first leg of his overseas trips after taking office in 2013 affirmed Vietnam’s important role in Japan’s diplomatic strategy and elevated the bilateral strategic partnership.

He also highlighted the State-level visit to Japan by President Truong Tan Sang in 2014 as a significant contribution to the growing cooperative relations between the two countries.

He noted that more than 100,000 Vietnamese studying and working in Japan, up 20 percent over the past two years are creating a new “Dong Du” movement. The “Dong Du” movement, initiated by Phan Boi Chau in early 20th century, encouraged hundreds of Vietnamese students to study in Japan in hope that they could help reform the country after their returns.

Meanwhile, more and more Japanese tourists are spending their vacations in Vietnam, he added.

President Yamazaki Masaaki said he was delighted at the strong growth of Vietnam , especially the presence of infrastructure projects symbolising the friendship between the country and Japan such as Nhat Tan bridge and the road connecting with Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi .

As regards the East Sea issues, the President said Japan objects to the use of or threat to use force to change the status quo in the East Sea. Any disputes must be resolved by peaceful means and international law, he said, adding that Japan will continue to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the maritime field.

For his part, President Truong Tan Sang thanked the Japanese parliament for condemning China’s illegal placement of oil rig Haiyan Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s sovereign waters.

The State leader appreciated Japan for providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam and injecting foreign direct investment into the Southeast Asian country.

Particularly, scores of joint projects in education and training are receiving due attention from Japanese leaders, he said, adding that Vietnam welcomes Japanese experts who came to transfer technology and increase export standards for Vietnamese farm produce.

Vietnam supports parliamentary ties with Japan

The Vietnamese Government and people will spare no effort to drive the parliamentary cooperation with Japan forward, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assured President of Japan’s House of Councilors Yamazaki Masaaki at a meeting in Hanoi on December 8.

The PM hailed the outcomes of the talks between the Japanese House of Councilors President and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and expressed his confidence that the guest’s visit will contribute to nurturing and enriching the friendship between the two countries.

He said he hopes Vietnam and Japan will further cooperation in politics, external affairs, defence, and security while increasing mutual support at international forums and expediting joint projects in agriculture, education, trade and investment.

The Japanese government and parliament are expected to maintain the provision of official development assistance (ODA) at a high level for Vietnam to develop infrastructure, he said, adding that the increasing number of Vietnamese students and nurses in Japan would serve as a bridge to sustain the bilateral relations.

The PM proposed President Yamazaki Masaaki do more to speed up the Vietnam-Japan University project for its operation in 2016.

Regarding the East Sea issues, PM Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated Vietnam’s standpoints to join hands with the international community to resolve any disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means and in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

President Yamazaki Masaaki thanked Vietnam for its support to Japan in the 2011 earthquake.

He appreciated Vietnam’s vigorous growth in recent years, particularly in the field of infrastructure.

He confirmed to make more contributions to propel the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan forward.-

VNA