PM wraps up trip to Japan, Mekong-Japan Summit

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 10 concluded his trip to Japan to attend the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit.

From October 8-10, PM Phuc had a busy working programme with various activities, both bilaterally and multilaterally. He attended the Mekong-Japan Summit and Mekong-Japan Investment Forum, and, together with other Mekong leaders, met Japanese Emperor Akihito and had working sessions with representatives from the Mekong-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League and the Japan Business Federation (KEIDANREN).

He met with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, took part in a joint press conference, witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements and had meetings with Japan’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Tadamori Oshima and Speaker of the House of Councillors Chuichi Date. He also attended the Vietnam Investment Promotion Conference and had talks with major Japanese corporations operating in real estate, infrastructure, finance, banking and information technology.

Speaking at the Mekong-Japan summit, the Vietnamese leader highlighted priorities for future cooperation, including stepping up transport, soft infrastructure and human connectivity through education and vocational training.

He suggested building a Mekong-Japan innovation network, an idea well-received by participating countries.

Regarding regional and international issues, PM Phuc stressed the need to ensure peace, stability, security and aviation and navigation safety and freedom in East Sea, calling for all parties involved to abide by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea fully and effectively and work towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Concluding the summit, he and other leaders decided to upgrade the Mekong-Japan cooperation to a strategic partnership level and approved the Tokyo Strategy 2018.

Addressing the Mekong-Japan Investment Forum, which was attended by more than 600 businesses, Phuc affirmed that Vietnam’s growth prospects are opening up cooperation opportunities for Mekong and Japanese enterprises.


During Phuc’s talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, both sides agreed to maintain close cooperation to foster their extensive strategic partnership.

They then witnessed the exchange of nine cooperative documents between Vietnamese and Japanese ministries and offices.

At the Vietnam-Japan Investment Businesses Conference, attended by representatives from more than 1,200 Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises, Phuc affirmed Vietnam will continue improving its business and investment environment, and encourages Japanese investment in State-owned enterprises, high-quality infrastructure and start-up projects.

Witnessed by the two PMs, both sides signed 19 cooperative agreements in various fields, with total committed capital of nearly 10 billion USD.

PM Phuc’s presence at the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit and his Japan visit show Vietnam is a reliable partner and is willing to work with Japan and other Mekong countries to build long-term cooperation plans between Greater Mekong Subregion countries and lifting the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership to a new height.-VNA