During the cordial meeting, Emperor Naruhito expressed gratitude for Vietnam’s support in addressing the aftermath of the Noto Peninsula earthquake. He also extended condolences for the damage caused by Typhoon Yagi, which struck Vietnam in September.

Reflecting on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan in 2023, Chairman Tran Thanh Man highlighted the robust development of bilateral ties across diverse fields, from politics to culture. He also expressed gratitude for Japan’s long-standing support of Vietnam’s development efforts.

High-level talks with Japanese leaders

Earlier that day, Chairman Tran Thanh Man held talks with Lower House Chairman Nukaga Fukushiro. Chairman Nukaga reaffirmed Japan’s view of Vietnam as a vital partner in its foreign policy in the region.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized Vietnam’s recognition of Japan as one of its most significant and enduring strategic partners. Both sides celebrated the progress in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation through various channels, including party-to-party, government, legislative, and people-to-people exchanges.

Discussions also covered potential agreements to enhance collaboration between Vietnam’s National Assembly and Japan’s Lower House, focusing on legislative exchanges and shared expertise.

Expanding bilateral cooperation

Both leaders agreed to promote defense and security collaboration, including the transfer of defense technologies and equipment, and joint efforts in United Nations peacekeeping missions. Japan also pledged continued support for Vietnam’s post-war recovery efforts and disaster response.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man called for a new generation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects from Japan, emphasizing high concessional rates and streamlined procedures for large-scale infrastructure projects. He also highlighted the need for Japan’s support in training high-quality human resources for Vietnam.

In response, Chairman Nukaga expressed Japan’s commitment to enhancing economic cooperation, including supply chain diversification, and noted the growing interest of Japanese businesses in expanding investments in Vietnam.

Strengthening friendship through diplomatic engagement

Later in the day, Chairman Tran Thanh Man met Nikai Toshihiro, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance. He commended the alliance’s significant contributions to the bilateral relationship, particularly under the leadership of Nikai Toshihiro and former Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man underscored the importance of increased collaboration in green transition, digital transformation, and renewable energy, and welcomed the alliance’s role in fostering business partnerships. Nikai Toshihiro expressed his gratitude for the recognition and pledged continued efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.

In a special ceremony, Chairman Tran Thanh Man awarded the Third-Class Labor Order to Nikai Toshihiro for his contributions to bilateral relations and presented the Friendship Medal to the Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture.

Tran Thuong