Tokyo (VNA) – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong met with Japan’s parliamentary leaders in Tokyo and visited several localities as part of his working trip to the country from September 25-30.
Phuong had meetings with President of the House of Councillors Sekiguchi Masakazu and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nukaga Fukushiro, and held talks with Vice President of the House of Councillors Fukuyama Tetsuro, and Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives Genba Koichiro. He also engaged with leaders of the Japan–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, including its Chairman Obuchi Yuko, Vice Chairman Yoichiro Aoyagi, and Honourary Adviser Nikai Toshihiro. At the events, Phuong expressed his delight at the strong development of the Vietnam – Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as progress in cooperation between the two parliaments, built upon the cooperation agreement signed during NA Chairman Man's official visit to Japan in December 2024.
He commended and thanked Japan for its contributions to Vietnam's socio-economic development through official development assistance (ODA) projects and foreign direct investment over the past three decades. He called on Japan to facilitate and simplify procedures as well as work toward visa exemptions for Vietnamese citizens to boost people-to-people exchanges. He also urged enhanced substantive and effective cooperation between localities of both countries through investment, labour, tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges.
He congratulated Japan on its successful host of the EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai and thanked the Japanese Government for facilitating Vietnam’s participation in the event.
Sekiguchi extended his condolences over the losses Vietnam suffered during Typhoon Bualoi and affirmed his efforts to bolster the Vietnam – Japan collaboration cross all areas.
Nukaga lauded Phuong’s visit to Hiroshima to lay a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial on September 27.
On the occasion, Phuong conveyed National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's invitation to both Sekiguchi and Nukaga to visit Vietnam.
Talks with Fukuyama and Genba focused on concrete steps to implement agreements and commitments reached between high-level leaders of both sides. They agreed that local cooperation remains a key driver of bilateral relations.
Meeting with the Japan–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, Phuong and the alliance’s leaders expressed their belief that bilateral ties boast huge potential for further development in the future.
During visits to Fukuoka and Oita prefectures, Phuong urged stronger links in workforce development, tourism, digital governance, and environmental management. Japanese governors praised contributions of the Vietnamese communities, 3,700 in Oita and over 23,000 in Fukuoka, to the local socio-economic development and pledged continued support for the Vietnamese people in the prefectures.
He also met Vietnamese diplomatic staff and community representatives, who expected for more favourable policies and expansion of Vietnamese language teaching in Japan./.
NA Vice Chairman engages with Japanese parliament leaders
Vietnam always considers Japan a top priority partner and a sincere and trusted friend on the path towards its development goals, with inter-parliamentary cooperation serving as an important channel to deepen substantive, comprehensive, and effective ties, said NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong.
