During the visit, PM Kishida paid respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, attended the exchange of cooperation documents, co-chaired a press conference with PM Chinh, participated in a seminar on Vietnam-Japan cooperation in technology renovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification.

He also paid courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and had a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

During his reception for the Japanese guest, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong laid stress on the great potential for bilateral cooperation. He welcomed the two countries’ building of plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship in 2023 so as to create durable foundation for the substantial, effective and practical ties in the future.

Meanwhile, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed in his reception for PM Kishida that Japan is a reliable partner of top importance of Vietnam, and among the top priorities in Vietnam’s external policy.

At his meeting with NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the Japanese PM shared that he has been a member of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance for more than 20 years, and so always value the exchange between the two parliaments. He asked Chairman Hue to continue contributing to bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially between the two law making bodies.

During their talks, the two PMs agreed on the major orientations and measures to further deepen cooperation across the fields, opening up a new period of development for the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.  

They reached consensus on further enhancing political trust through maintaining high-level visits and contact, and improving the effectiveness of cooperative and dialogue mechanisms.

They welcomed the great strides in implementing outcomes of PM Chinh’s visit to Japan last November, and agreed to intensify collaboration in post-pandemic economic recovery, and to work together to hold activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the exchange of 22 cooperative documents between ministries, agencies, localities and enterprises of the two countries.

They co-chaired a joint press conference to announce the main outcomes of their talks, stressing that the two sides agreed to coordinate closely to promote their extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia for the sake of the two peoples’ interests, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Addressing the Vietnam-Japan seminar on cooperation in technology renovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification, PM Kishida said cooperation possibilities between Japan and Vietnam are limitless, noting that the two countries have been promoting cooperation towards the post-COVID-19 period.  

The visit by PM Kishida took place when the Vietnam-Japan ties are at their best ever. It contributed to deepening the bilateral relationship, implementing the outcomes of PM Chinh’s visit to Japan last November, enhancing political trust between the two countries and good relations between their leaders and strengthening result-oriented in all fields, meeting the interests and aspiration of the two peoples.

Party leader welcomes visiting Japanese PM Kishida Fumio

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong voiced his delight at the flourishing Vietnam - Japan relations while receiving Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Hanoi on May 1.

Welcoming the PM and the high-level Government delegation of Japan, the host Party leader congratulated Kishida on his election as President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

He highly valued the good results of the Japanese PM’s official visit, especially Kishida’s talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and meetings with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, during which the two sides reached many common perceptions, agreements, and important measures for bilateral cooperation.

General Secretary Trong expressed his delight at the fast and comprehensive development of the two countries’ relations as seen in frequent mutual visits by their leaders, the intensive and effective economic ties, and the nearly 450,000 Vietnamese people in Japan.

He emphasised the enormous cooperation potential in various areas, asking both sides to continue boosting high-level exchanges and meetings as well as relations between their sectors and localities, while coordinating with each other at international forums for the sake of the two countries’ interests, and for peace, friendship, and cooperation in the region and the world at large.

The Party leader applauded the countries’ plan on activities marking the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023 so as to create more durable stepping stones for their result-oriented, effective, and practical relations in the time to come.

He also highlighted Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations; and of being a friend, a trustworthy partner, and a responsible member of the international community.

For his part, PM Kishida noted the significant results obtained during his talks with his counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and meetings with other leaders of Vietnam.

He proposed his host support the activities celebrating the 50 years of the Japan - Vietnam diplomatic ties, affirming that he will do his utmost to promote bilateral relations to a new level.

At the meeting, the two leaders also exchanged views on some regional and international issues of common concern.

Japan - trustworthy, longtime strategic partner of Vietnam: President

Vietnam and Japan share common strategic interests and Japan is a trustworthy and longtime strategic partner of great importance, which is always a high priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed on May 1.

He made the statement while receiving Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who was paying an official visit to Vietnam from April 30 to May 1.

The Vietnamese President highly valued the visit, which he said demonstrates Japan’s sentiments, sincerity and respect for Vietnam and the countries’ extensive strategic partnership. He expressed his gratitude to Kishida’s significant contributions to the robust development of the Vietnam-Japan relations.

The two leaders rejoiced at strides of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership in recent times, especially the spirit of sharing, partnership, cooperation and surmounting hardships together in the fight against COVID-19.

Japan has always been Vietnam’s leading partner in terms of trade, investment, official development assistance (ODA), tourism and labour affairs.

Based on the achievements in bilateral relations over the time, the Vietnamese President proposed that the two countries increase political trust, maintain regular visits and exchanges at all levels and well organise activities marking the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic ties next year on a par with the significance of their extensive strategic partnership.

He expressed his hope that the sides will bolster effective and practical cooperation in national defence-security; enhance the two economies' connectivity, strengthen supply chains, expand cooperation in investment, trade and digital transformation.

The two countries should also continue with the implementation of new generation ODA and promote cooperation in healthcare, natural disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation and transition to clean energy, thus benefiting people of two countries. 

The Vietnamese President took the occasion to invite the Japanese Emperor and Empress as well as members of the Imperial House of Japan to visit Vietnam in the future.

For his part, the Japanese PM reiterated that Japan always attaches importance to relations with Vietnam in its regional policy.

Agreeing to suggestions by President Phuc, Kishida expressed his wish to foster close cooperation with Vietnam and bring the extensive strategic partnership to a new height in a practical and effective way towards the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023. He invited Phuc to visit Japan next year on the occasion.

During the meeting, the leaders consented to closely coordinate at international and regional forums. They exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern such as the East Sea issue, the Ukraine situation, response to non-traditional security challenges and regional connectivity improvement.

Japanese PM attaches importance to enhancing parliamentary ties with Vietnam

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on May 1 met with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who said he attaches great importance to promoting cooperation and exchange between the two countries’ parliaments.

PM Kishida, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, said he has been a member of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance for more than 20 years, and that he hopes Chairman Hue with rich experience in previous posts will continue contributing to the enhancement of bilateral relations, especially in parliamentary cooperation.

Noting with satisfaction that the Vietnam - Japan ties have been thriving in different aspects, Hue expressed his belief that after Kishida's visit, the common perceptions reached between the countries’ leaders and the freshly signed cooperation documents will be implemented fruitfully, opening up a new development stage for bilateral connections.

The NA of Vietnam always supports the Government’s commitments and actively works to perfect regulations so as to create a favourable business climate for foreign investors, including those from Japan, he stated.

In his capacity, he will further promote collaboration between the two legislative bodies, including increasing high-level mutual visits as well as exchanges between the parliaments’ specialised agencies, the host leader affirmed, noting that the 15th-tenure NA set up the Vietnam - Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, led by Politburo member and Chairwoman of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai.

At the meeting, the two leaders shared the view that to secure substantive and effective post-pandemic economic recovery, it is critically important to carry out investment projects, including those funded through official development assistance (ODA).

PM Kishida said he hopes the Vietnamese parliament will keep cooperating with Japan in this regard, and that both sides should exert joint efforts to deal with obstacles in order to effectively promote cooperation projects.

He also highly valued his host’s efforts to strengthen parliamentary cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic such as by holding talks and meetings with leaders of the Japanese parliament via videoconference and in person last year.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern, agreeing to reinforce coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums like the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

With regard to the East Sea issue, they underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters; resolving disputes by peaceful means, including respecting all diplomatic and legal processes and not using or threatening to use force on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); fully, comprehensively, and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); and soon finalising a code of conduct (COC).

In terms of the Ukraine situation, PM Kishida welcomed the importance Vietnam attaches to the humanitarian issue and the country’s decision to provide 500,000 USD in humanitarian aid for Ukraine via international humanitarian organisations.

The two leaders affirmed that their countries will work together to successfully carry out the plan to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2023 in a way that matches their Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia.

PM Kishida said he will convey Chairman Hue’s invitation to visit Vietnam to Speaker of the House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki and President of the House of Councillors Santo Akiko.

Source: VNA