Ample room remains for Vietnam-Japan relations: diplomat, professors

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu. (Photo: VNA)

Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam and Japan hold a lot of potential and needto further promote cooperation in green transformation and energy transition inthe medium and long terms, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu toldthe Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th foundinganniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (September 21).

Highlighting Japan’s support for Vietnam’s implementation ofits national strategy on green growth for the 2021-2030 period, with a visionto 2050, Hieu stated that the two countries have actively cooperated andsupported each other in implementing their own international commitments, andachieved many fundamental results to continue promoting cooperation in thecoming time.

At multilateral and bilateral forums, the two countries havepledged to support each other and participate in dialogue and cooperationmechanisms on energy transition such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP)approved on December 14, 2022.

Implementing the JETP, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) hascommitted 300 million USD in support through the Joint Stock Commercial Bank forForeign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) to implement renewable energy projects.

For its part, Vietnam also strongly supports Japan'sinitiative on the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), reflected through DeputyPrime Minister Tran Hong Ha’s attendance at the AZEC Ministerial Meeting inTokyo in early March.

The two countries are speeding up the establishment of ajoint working group to implement the AZEC to have specific and effective plansand actions.

The diplomat shared that many Japanese businesses recently looked for Vietnamese partners to expand cooperation in technologytransfer, promoting circular economy, applying microbiological technology toturn organic waste and sludge into fertilisers, and ensuring supply foragricultural production and food security.

Regarding Japan’s investment in Vietnam, Hieu said thatthere are over 5,000 valid investment projects worth over 70 billion USD, making Japan the third out of the 143 countries and territories pouring capitalinto the Southeast Asian nation.

Vietjet launches Ho Chi Minh City - Osaka air route, contributing to promoting tourism, trade and integration between the two countries and in the region. (Photo: VNA)

To achieve more green investments from Japan and othercountries, the Vietnamese Government has paid due attention to improving its business and investment environment and implementing concerted measures such asstabilising the macro-economy; investing in infrastructure, particularly in thetransport field; perfecting policies and institutions; and simplifyingadministrative procedure related to investment, business and land.

Regarding the bilateral relations, Prof., Dr. MasayaShiraishi, Emeritus Professor of the Waseda University, who is Chairman of theJapanese Association for Vietnamese Studies, said that there will be more andmore cooperation opportunities between Japan and Vietnam, in both bilateral andmultilateral frameworks, as Vietnam is an important partner in Japan’sdiplomatic relations and plays a more positive role as an increasinglyimportant member of ASEAN.

Professor Go Ito (Photo: VNA)

Sharing the same view, Professor Go Ito from Japan's MeijiUniversity proposed the two countries focus on strengthening cooperation invarious fields, including politics, economics and security.

According to him, the promotion of bilateral relations withina multilateral framework, particularly ASEAN-Japan, and ASEAN Plus Three, isvery important.

He expressed his hope that the 50th founding anniversary of thebilateral diplomatic relations will be a good opportunity for the two countriesto reap more cooperation achievements./.

VNA