Vietnam and Japan agreed to expand the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to include more countries and regions for the future benefit of both nations, reported The Nikkei newspaper from Japan.
The leaders have discussed the possibility of launching negotiations on a bilateral social welfare agreement which will prevent the double payment of social security contributions for Vietnamese employers who have employees working in Japan and vice versa, the newspaper said.
Japan also pledged to provide Vietnam with JPY15.6 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to build educational establishments for human resources training in the industrial sector, it added.
In addition to cooperation in economics, the Japanese media also highlighted Vietnam-Japan relations in East Sea issues, freedom of navigation, promotion of respect for international law, and the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
The two sides exchanged concerns over the current situation in the East Sea and shared common awareness of the importance of fostering peace and stability in the waters and of demilitarisation through diplomatic efforts, NHK Television reported.
PM Shinzo Abe spoke of his hopes that the two nations will continue taking their partnership in maritime security to new heights while pushing for the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy”. He stressed that the freedom of navigation is important to the region’s peace and prosperity, reported Sankei, Mainichi, JIJI, and Kyodo News Agency.
