Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio (right) and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh (Photo: VNA) The diplomat told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) thatthe official visit is significance as it marked a milestone inthe relationship and affirmed the resolve of the two countries’ leaders to openup a new page of the “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperityin Asia” between Vietnam and Japan.
During the visit, Kishida had meetings withVietnamese key leaders, including Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong,President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and NationalAssembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.
Their good personal sentiments are likely to createa firm foundation for the long-term development of the friendship andcooperation between the two countries and peoples, Nam said.
Economic cooperation was the main focus of the talksbetween the leaders, he said, adding that a total of 23 important documents werereached during the visit, covering economy-trade, science-technology,transportation, digital transformation and innovation.
The two sides laid an emphasis on priority cooperationspheres – the diversification of sources of supply, digital transformation andtechnological renovation. The Japanese government pledged to support 39 firms operatingin these fields.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese side was interested in new-generationofficial development assistance (ODA) with high incentives and streamlined,flexible procedures in strategic infrastructure in transport, climate change response,digital transformation, and health care.
In their meetings, both Vietnamese and Japaneseleaders affirmed the significance of 2023 as the year marks the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and agreed to establish nationalorganising committees in charge of holding major celebration events.
Regarding political security, they consented tocontinue their close coordination at regional and international forums like theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit (EAS), theAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), theUnited Nations and the Mekong-Japan cooperation.
They will work together with other members toimplement and expand the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and effectively realise the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The sides touched upon their common views on the settlement ofdisputes and differences by peaceful measures, including the respect fordiplomatic and legal processes, and in accordance with international law,particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982UNCLOS).
They also highlighted the comprehensive, full andeffective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in theEast Sea (DOC), soon reaching an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC)in line with international law.
The leaders were resolved to soon bring Vietnameselongan to Japan, paving waves for other fruits such as grape, grapefruit, avocadoand rambutan to access the market.
Nam suggested Vietnamese businesses pay heed to longanquality, sterilisation and post-harvest preservation and make plans to put thefruit on Japanese supermarket shelves next September.
Vietnam should pay more attention to high-techagriculture and enhance production cooperation chains to churn out agriculturalproducts that satisfy Japan’s requirements, he noted.
The ambassador held that the Vietnamese and Japaneseeconomies have become increasingly reciprocal, and the number of Japanese firmsin Vietnam is expected to rise in the time ahead.
To promote the bilateral ties, Nam stressed the needfor the two countries to step up the communication work to educate their younggenerations about the heartfelt and trustworthy relationship./.
VNA
