Vietnam attaches importance to its strategic partnership with Japan and considers Japan as a leading and long-term partner, said President Tran Dai Quang.

President Tran Dai Quang (R) welcomes Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Oshima Tadamori in Hanoi 

During a reception in Hanoi on May 5 for Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Oshima Tadamori, President Quang also spoke highly of the development of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in recent years as well as the exchanges between their young parliamentarians.

Having expressed his delight at the outcomes of the earlier talks between Tadamori and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the President believed that the ongoing visit will significantly contribute to fostering cooperative ties between the two legislatures, and between Vietnam and Japan as well.

He praised the strong development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship in all fields, particularly in politics, security-defence, economy, cooperation among localities and people-to-people exchange, saying that the official visit to Vietnam by PM Shinzo Abe and the first State visit by the Japanese Emperor and Empress in March 2017 created a new momentum for bilateral relations in the future.

President Quang suggested the two nations continue their close coordination at multilateral forums, while working together closely to ensure navigation security on the basis of respect for international law and settlement of disputes through peaceful measures.

Having thanked Japan for its official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam over the past 20 years, the President called on Tadamori and the House of Representatives to continue supporting the Japanese Government’s provision of more ODA for Vietnam.

Vietnam also welcomes Japanese businesses to expand investments in the country, especially in the fields of infrastructure, high technology, supporting industry and climate change adaptation, he added.

For his part, Tadamori held that 2017 is an important year for the development of bilateral ties with various high-level visits, including the Vietnam visits by PM Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Emperor and Empress, and the upcoming visits to Japan by Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

He said that many Japanese enterprises and investors want to seek investment and business opportunities in Vietnam, adding that Vietnam’s determination to reform administrative procedures and improve its investment environment is an important factor to attract more Japanese firms.

Tadamori asserted that Vietnam and Japan should further promote their coordination in regional mechanisms such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, and affirmed Japan’s support to Vietnam in hosting the APEC Year 2017.

The same day, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarian Group Pham Minh Chinh hosted a banquet in honour of the Japanese delegation.

The Japanese guests also visited the Nguyen Dinh Chieu high school for blind children, the Birla Children Village and the Vietnam-Japan University in Hanoi.

Party chief welcomes top Japanese legislator

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori in Hanoi on May 5.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (right) and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori

At the reception, the Party chief said the Speaker’s visit takes place when the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is at its best ever, noting the strong progress in all aspects of bilateral ties over the past time. 

He expressed his delight to welcome Japanese high-ranking leaders, especially the Emperor and the Empress, to Vietnam this year. Those visits contributed greatly to deepening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and peoples, the Party General Secretary said. 

Oshima said the visit to Vietnam made by Japanese Emperor and Empress marked a new development in bilateral ties, adding that the royal couple carries home deep impressions of the Vietnamese people and land, and the friendship between the two countries.

He also informed his host about the outcomes of the talks with National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and stressed his wish to boost the exchange and cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

The Japanese House of Representatives gives high priority to promoting ties with Vietnam in economic-trade, education, and people-to-people exchange, Oshima said.

The lawmaker stressed Japan is willing to cooperate with Vietnam in the organisation of the 2017 APEC summit.

Lauding the outcomes of talks between the top legislators, Trong underscored significant contributions of the Japanese House of Representatives to bilateral relations.

Vietnam attached importance to the partnership with Japan for mutual benefits of the two peoples as well as for peace and security in the region and in the world, he added. 

Japanese legislator wraps up Vietnam visit

Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Oshima Tadamori on May 6 concluded his three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Tadamori held talks with the Vietnamese NA leader, while paying courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang and met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. He also had a meeting with leaders of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarian Group.

During his stay, Tadamori paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and laid a wreath at the Heroic Martyrs’ Monument in Bac Son street of Hanoi.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed that similarities in culture, history as well as friendship and common interests of the two nations have helped boost bilateral ties in a comprehensive and deep manner. The two countries set up their intensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in March 2014, they noted.

Both sides agreed to further promote cooperation in labour, while the Japanese side concurred to increase the reception of Vietnamese apprentices in wider areas such as agriculture, fisheries and construction under a newly-issued law that will become effective in November this year.

The Japanese legislator suggested that the two sides implement the content of global trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, while expressing his hope that both countries will speed up the approval of the deal.

Regarding collaboration between the two parliaments, the two sides lauded the fruitful partnership between Friendship Parliamentarian Groups and parliamentarians of the two countries, sharing hope to maintain high-level meetings among leaders of the two legislative bodies and strengthen cooperation and dialogue as well as experience sharing between the two sides.

They also lauded the two Friendship Parliamentarian Groups’ efforts in speeding up the establishment of the Vietnam-Japan University in Vietnam, which has become operation.

They shared belief that the two countries will see rise in the number of tourists visiting each other’s country. Japan expected to foster partnership with Vietnam in culture and sports.

Over some regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea matter, Vietnam and Japan agreed to uphold the ensuring of peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea. They stressed the need for the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures, the respect for diplomatic and legal processes, and the strict preservation of international law.

The Japanese guest also visited the Nguyen Dinh Chieu high school for blind children, Birla Children Village, Vietnam-Japan University and some enterprises at Thang Long Industrial Park in Hanoi.

VNA