Vietnam, Japan pledge closer coordination at international forums

Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii pledged to further strengthen Vietnam-Japan coordination and cooperation at international and regional forums, during their March 9 working session on the fringes of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme Ministerial Conference in Tokyo.

Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii.
Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Iwao Horii.

Both sides agreed to work closely together when organising activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, as well as in making preparations for the mutual visits to be made by the two countries’ senior leaders in 2018.

The Vietnamese diplomat congratulated Japan on its successful organisation of the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme Ministerial Conference, which actively contributed to accelerating cooperation between the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OCED) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a substantive and effective fashion.

He hailed Japan’s leading role in completing the negotiation and signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and asked the country to continue backing the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN over the East Sea issue.

Both sides pledge closer coordination at international and regional forums.

Son called on Japan to enhance its investment in Vietnam’s supporting industries, manufacturing industry, and high-tech agriculture, while continuing to provide official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam’s infrastructure projects, and creating favourable conditions for Vietnam’s export items, especially farm produce.

Iwao Horii congratulated Vietnam on its successful hosting of the APEC Year 2017, while expressing his delight at the 11 countries’ official signing of the CPTPP, and offering high praise for Vietnam’s active participation and contribution to the OECD Southeast Asia Regional Programme Ministerial Conference.

He asked Vietnam to create favourable conditions for the implementation of bilateral economic cooperation projects, voicing his hopes that economic cooperation between the two countries would continue to thrive in the future.

The Japanese official affirmed Japan’s support for the maintenance of peace, stability, and maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea, as well as its pledge to assist infrastructure development in Vietnam and the Mekong sub-region, including the East-West Corridor.