Cooperation between Japan and Vietnam has progressed intensively and extensively over the past year, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida has stated in an exclusive interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
The interview focused on developments in Vietnam-Japan relationship and Japan’s contributions to peace and stability in Asia-Pacific since the two countries elevated their ties to the Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Stability in Asia.
The Minister revealed that he frequently visited Vietnam since becoming a congressman and joining the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.
“In my view, Vietnam is a very special country,” Kishida told the VNA, recounting his co-chair of the Japan-Vietnam Cooperation Committee’s meeting in 2014 and the two previous years with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
He spoke highly of the two sides discussing wide-ranging cooperation and ways to expedite the cooperation at Japan-Vietnam Cooperation Committee meetings.
He recalled his talks in this March in Japan with Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan on the sidelines of the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which came up with affirmation that bilateral affiliation will be promoted.
Minister Kishida expressed his desires to speed up connection with Vietnam as well as working together with the country for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Regarding the scheduled birth of an ASEAN Community late this year, Kishida said he viewed a closely-knitted and more prosperous ASEAN is extremely crucial to peace, stability, and development in the region.
He asserted that Japan continues supporting the bloc’s efforts in reinforcing regional connectivity and narrowing the development gap among its member countries, and bolstering linkages with the bloc in maritime security and natural disaster prevention and control, among others.
Japan also wishes to promote regional cooperation where ASEAN plays the central role, the Minister said, looking forward to seeing the upcoming seventh Japan-Mekong Summit in Tokyo, which is expected to see the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, putting forth a new strategy to intensify connectivity with Vietnam.
On Japan’s role in creating a peaceful and stable environment in the Asian-Pacific region whose security is increasingly facing hidden risks that could cause uncertainties and disputes, Minister Kishida quoted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech which referred to the “importance of the supremacy of law at sea”.
According to the Minister, “the supremacy of law” in safeguarding order is of extreme importance for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
Grounded on the “positive pacifism” stance and the spirit of international harmony, Japan wishes to work together with Vietnam in continuous efforts towards peace and stability in the region, he affirmed.
A year ago State President Truong Tan Sang made a State visit to Japan at the invitation of Emperor Akihito and Empress.
This was the first State visit by Truong Tan Sang as State President and the second by the Head of State of Vietnam over the past 40 years since 1973 when the two countries established their diplomatic ties.
The visit was an important milestone marking a great progress in bilateral ties as both sides agreed to promote their “Strategic Partnership” to “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia’.-VNA
The interview focused on developments in Vietnam-Japan relationship and Japan’s contributions to peace and stability in Asia-Pacific since the two countries elevated their ties to the Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Stability in Asia.
The Minister revealed that he frequently visited Vietnam since becoming a congressman and joining the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.
“In my view, Vietnam is a very special country,” Kishida told the VNA, recounting his co-chair of the Japan-Vietnam Cooperation Committee’s meeting in 2014 and the two previous years with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
He spoke highly of the two sides discussing wide-ranging cooperation and ways to expedite the cooperation at Japan-Vietnam Cooperation Committee meetings.
He recalled his talks in this March in Japan with Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan on the sidelines of the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which came up with affirmation that bilateral affiliation will be promoted.
Minister Kishida expressed his desires to speed up connection with Vietnam as well as working together with the country for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
Regarding the scheduled birth of an ASEAN Community late this year, Kishida said he viewed a closely-knitted and more prosperous ASEAN is extremely crucial to peace, stability, and development in the region.
He asserted that Japan continues supporting the bloc’s efforts in reinforcing regional connectivity and narrowing the development gap among its member countries, and bolstering linkages with the bloc in maritime security and natural disaster prevention and control, among others.
Japan also wishes to promote regional cooperation where ASEAN plays the central role, the Minister said, looking forward to seeing the upcoming seventh Japan-Mekong Summit in Tokyo, which is expected to see the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, putting forth a new strategy to intensify connectivity with Vietnam.
On Japan’s role in creating a peaceful and stable environment in the Asian-Pacific region whose security is increasingly facing hidden risks that could cause uncertainties and disputes, Minister Kishida quoted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech which referred to the “importance of the supremacy of law at sea”.
According to the Minister, “the supremacy of law” in safeguarding order is of extreme importance for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
Grounded on the “positive pacifism” stance and the spirit of international harmony, Japan wishes to work together with Vietnam in continuous efforts towards peace and stability in the region, he affirmed.
A year ago State President Truong Tan Sang made a State visit to Japan at the invitation of Emperor Akihito and Empress.
This was the first State visit by Truong Tan Sang as State President and the second by the Head of State of Vietnam over the past 40 years since 1973 when the two countries established their diplomatic ties.
The visit was an important milestone marking a great progress in bilateral ties as both sides agreed to promote their “Strategic Partnership” to “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia’.-VNA
