Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu

They agreed to further enhance political trust viamaintaining regular visits, exchanges and dialogues at all levels whilebringing into full play the efficiency of the existing cooperation and dialoguemechanisms.

Informing his guest of Vietnam’s priorities for internal andexternal relations during 2020, Minh affirmed the country’s consistent policyof taking Japan as a partner of top significance. He also invited his guest toASEAN-related meetings in Vietnam this year.

Toshimitsu, for his part, wished to further deepenthe Japan – Vietnam extensive strategic partnership.

Japan supports and will work closely with Vietnam to helpthe country successfully undertake the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and anon-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 – 2021tenure.

Both sides vowed to intensify collaboration across trade,investment, official development assistance, human resources development andclimate change response.

Minh asked the Japanese government to encourage firms to help Vietnamesecounterparts join the global supply chain, increase investment in hi-tech agricultureand support industry, soon allow the import of Vietnamese longan, and assistVietnam in environment issues and climate change response.

Host and guest promised to partner in receiving workers andtrainees, removing unhealthy labour and student brokerage firms so as to ensuretheir legitimate rights in Japan.

The host said the Vietnamese Government has approved Japan’sproposal of opening a consular office in the central city of Da Nang. He alsoproposed that the Japanese government should simplify procedures to issue visasfor Vietnamese citizens.

The two sides agreed to continue working closely together atregional and global forums, discuss the promotion of global economic linkages,including the early implementation of the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the signing of the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership.

They exchanged ideas on regional and global issues of sharedconcern. As for the East Sea issue, they agreed on the importance of ensuringpeace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, complying withinternational law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law ofthe Sea.

On the occasion, they held a ceremony to exchange diplomaticnotes on water drainage and wastewater treatment projects in Ha Long citysigned by Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung and Japanese FM Toshimitsu, and ondioxin and environment analysis equipment worth 2.7 million USD as anon-refundable aid signed between Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh andJapanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio.

The same day, Japanese FM’s spouse Motegi Emi visited Chu Van An elementary school inHanoi./.VNA