According to Kyodo News, the Japanese PM named Vietnam as an important partner in realising Japan’s vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, citing his comments at the press conference after talks with Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh.
In the bilateral relationship, the two leaders agreed on enhancing cooperation in Vietnam's maritime security and on Japan's Self-Defense Forces helping Vietnam strengthen its cybersecurity skills.
The two sides also decided to set up a website for Vietnamese people seeking to train in Japan under the country's technical internship programme and allow them to directly access information on job offers and the relevant organisations.
In addition, Japan vowed to provide 19 billion JPY (146 million USD) to Vietnam for improving its disaster management capabilities by launching observation satellites.
Under the headline “Japan to Work with Vietnam to Diversify Supply Chains”, Jiji Press stated that during his visit to Vietnam, Japanese PM Kishida Fumio unveiled the idea that Japan and Vietnam will work closely to strengthen supply chains through diversification.
At a seminar on the two countries' cooperation in Hanoi, PM Kishida Fumio said the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of diversified supply chains.
He added that Japan will assist in supporting industries, which mainly make parts and other intermediate goods in Vietnam so that Japanese companies doing business in the country can operate without a hitch.
Referring to progress in the digitalisation of trade procedures in Vietnam through private-sector bilateral cooperation, the Japanese leader expressed hope that many other problems will also be solved through digital transformation.
In an article on May 1, the Japan Times wrote that the two leaders of Vietnam and Japan confirmed their commitment to closer bilateral cooperation in the security and economic fields.
On regional and international matters, PM Kishida Fumio and PM Pham Minh Chinh agreed on the importance of respecting the sovereignty of states.
“I am convinced that we can join hands with Vietnam for the peace and stability of the region and the world”, said PM Kishida Fumio during a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 30.
