Vietnam considers Japan a long-term, important and reliable strategic partner: PM

Vietnam regards Japan as a long-term, important and reliable strategic partner, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio during their talks in Tokyo on November 24.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio (Photo: VNA)
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio (Photo: VNA)

PM Chinh, who has been on an official visit to Japan, congratulated Kishida on his re-election as the PM of Japan, and thanked the latter for his special sentiments and significant contributions to the development of the relations between the two countries.

He conveyed the invitations of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other Vietnamese leaders to the Emperor and Empress, PM Kishida and leaders of Japan to soon visit Vietnam.

PM Kishida highlighted outstanding development steps of the bilateral ties over the past years, which, he said, are now at the best-ever stage in history.

Japan attaches great importance to its relations with Vietnam, he said, lauding socio-economic achievements the Southeast Asian nation has recorded as well as its increasingly important role and position in the region and the world as well.

The two PMs noted with pleasure the development of the relations and agreed on major orientations and measures to open up a new development period for the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership.

PM Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue to create an open, transparent investment climate, actively support businesses and fulfil its commitments towards investors.

PM Kishida pledged that Japan will provide comprehensive support for Vietnam in the COVID-19 combat, saying the Japanese Government will provide an additional 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for Vietnam.

In reply, PM Chinh expressed his gratitude and high appreciation to the Japanese Government and people for their donation of 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in total as well as many medical equipment and supplies.

Both sides consented to continue working together closely on research and production of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs.
The two leaders agreed on the need to continue promoting security and defence cooperation, joining the United Nations peacekeeping force, overcoming war consequences in Vietnam, and enhancing collaboration to improve law enforcement at sea.

They consented to consider reopening commercial air routes and deploying the vaccine passport scheme, strengthening cooperation in socio-economic development in the face of negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and cooperation programmes using Japan's official development assistance during the post-pandemic recovery period.

The two PMs also pledged to work closely to increase and expand the reception of Vietnamese guest workers to Japan, and step up cooperation in handling issues related to Vietnamese apprentices and students.

They promised to work closely at international and regional forums, deal with common challenges of the international community, and implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Regarding the East Sea/South China Sea, the two PMs emphasised the importance of ensuring security and safety of navigation and aviation and settling all disputes and differences via peaceful measures, including the full respect for the diplomatic and legal processes, and not using force or threatening to use force, based on international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They also stressed the necessity to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalise an effective, practical and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing and exchange of 11 documents by ministries, agencies, and enterprises of the two countries.

The two sides also issued a Joint Statement Toward the Opening of a New Era in Japan-Vietnam Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia.