Welcoming the Japanese official, PM Phuc said he is impressed with the newly-appointed minister’s efforts and sense of responsibility towards the two countries’ relations.
He affirmed Japan is always a strategic partner of leading importance to Vietnam, especially in the fields of economy, trade and investment.
Pledging concerted efforts to contribute to bilateral diplomatic ties, Motegi once again thanked Vietnam and PM Phuc for promoting the consensus on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) at the APEC summit in Da Nang city in 2017.
He noted that as Vietnam serves as the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020, he chose the country as the first destination to visit this year.
At the meeting, PM Phuc voiced his support for Japan to strongly bring into play its role in the region. He also asked his guest to convey his thanks to the Japanese PM for paying continuous attention to promoting the countries’ friendship and cooperation.
Vietnam has always made efforts to effectively realise the high-level commitments between the two nations, he added.
To boost the substantive development of bilateral ties, the host leader suggested both sides strengthen political trust via mutual high-level visits. He also asked the Japanese Government to cooperate more closely to reinforce the two economies’ connectivity, encourage Japanese firms to continue expanding operations in Vietnam, and create favourable conditions for agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam to access the Japanese market.
On this occasion, he invited the Japanese PM to visit Vietnam and attend ASEAN summits in the country in 2020.
PM Phuc also highly valued locality-to-locality links and asked Japan to keep assisting Vietnam in administrative reforms, e-Government building, and high-level official training.
The countries should coordinate more closely at international forums and work together to promote international economic connections, especially the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), according to the leader.
He spoke highly of Japan’s viewpoint and called on the country to continue supporting ASEAN and Vietnam’s stance on ensuring peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as to comply with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the East Sea.
Minister Motegi affirmed his country’s commitment to cooperating closely with and supporting Vietnam to fulfil the roles of the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He also thanked PM Phuc for his attention to the removal of difficulties facing bilateral cooperation, including Japan’s official development assistance and projects in Vietnam.
Japan believes that with Vietnam’s efforts, the RCEP will be promoted strongly and the CPTPP implemented effectively, he said, adding that Japan welcomes and will seek ways to facilitate Vietnamese farm produce’s entry into its market. It is also ready to help Vietnam with e-Government building.
Regarding the East Sea issue, he stated Japan always supports the viewpoint of resolving disputes by peaceful means, along with the need to respect ASEAN’s role and abide by international law.
Appreciating the foreign minister’s opinions, PM Phuc shared the view on the necessity to further diversify bilateral relations, enhance mutual support at regional and international forums, and cooperate closely with each other as well as with other countries to ensure peace and stability in the Asian-Pacific region.
* On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with visiting Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu, during which they expressed their delight at the impressive development of the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership over the past years.
 |
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh (R) and Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu. (Photo: VGP)
They agreed to further enhance political trust via maintaining regular visits, exchanges and dialogues at all levels while bringing into full play the efficiency of the existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms.
Informing his guest of Vietnam’s priorities for internal and external relations during 2020, Minh affirmed the country’s consistent policy of taking Japan as a partner of top significance. He also invited his guest to ASEAN-related meetings in Vietnam this year.
Toshimitsu, for his part, wished to further deepen the Japan - Vietnam extensive strategic partnership.
Japan supports and will work closely with Vietnam to help the country successfully undertake the role of the ASEAN Chair 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 - 2021 tenure.
Both sides vowed to intensify collaboration across trade, investment, official development assistance, human resources development and climate change response.
Minh asked the Japanese government to encourage firms to help Vietnamese counterparts join the global supply chain, increase investment in hi-tech agriculture and support industry, soon allow the import of Vietnamese longan, and assist Vietnam in environment issues and climate change response.
Host and guest promised to partner in receiving workers and trainees, removing unhealthy labour and student brokerage firms so as to ensure their legitimate rights in Japan.
The host said the Vietnamese Government has approved Japan’s proposal of opening a consular office in the central city of Da Nang. He also proposed that the Japanese government should simplify procedures to issue visas for Vietnamese citizens.
The two sides agreed to continue working closely together at regional and global forums, discuss the promotion of global economic linkages, including the early implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
They exchanged ideas on regional and global issues of shared concern. As for the East Sea issue, they agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom, complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
On the occasion, they held a ceremony to exchange diplomatic notes on water drainage and wastewater treatment projects in Ha Long city signed by Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung and Japanese FM Toshimitsu, and on dioxin and environment analysis equipment worth 2.7 million USD as a non-refundable aid signed between Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio.
The same day, Japanese FM’s spouse Motegi Emi visited Chu Van An elementary school in Hanoi.
