Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at their talks in Tokyo on October 8 (Photo: VNA) Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnamese PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe had talks inTokyo on October 8, reaching consensus on various measures to bring the countries’extensive strategic partnership to a new stage of more comprehensive andsubstantive development.
The Vietnamese leader is on a trip to attend the10th Mekong – Japan Summit and visit the Northeast Asian nation.
At the talks, the two sides applauded thesubstantive expansion of the countries’ friendship and cooperation in allaspects like economy, politics, security – defence, agriculture and humanresources training. They welcomed the numerous activities held to celebrate the45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties this year.
PM Phuc congratulated Abe on being re-electedPresident of the Liberal Democratic Party, expressing his belief that under theleadership of PM Abe, Japan will play an increasingly important role in theregion and the world, and the countries’ relations will be reinforced even morestrongly.
On behalf of the Japanese Government and people,the host offered the deepest condolences on the passing of former GeneralSecretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi and President Tran DaiQuang. He spoke highly of the two’s contributions to bilateral connections.
At the event, the PMs agreed to continue toenhance political trust by maintaining high-level visits and meetings, andpromote substantive defence – security cooperation, particularly in trainingmanpower, transferring defence technology and equipment, military medicine,cyber security, joining United Nations peacekeeping missions, addressing warconsequences through clearing unexploded ordnance and supporting dioxin victimsin Vietnam, and sharing experience in building policies on sustainablesea-based economic development in Vietnam.
They agreed to push ahead with the countries’economic connectivity in a mutually beneficial manner. Vietnam and Japan willstep up partnerships in supporting industries, energy, hi-tech agriculture andhigh-quality infrastructure. They will create conditions for their fruits,including oranges and apples of Japan and lychees, longans and star apples ofVietnam, to enter each other’s markets.
[Vietnam – Japan: Old partners, new partnership]
The leaders also discussed ways to acceleratesome ongoing projects.
PM Abe said the Japanese Government attachesimportance to the sustainable development of Vietnam and will make efforts topromote this through ODA and investment projects of Japanese businesses. Hiscountry will further assist the Southeast Asian nation in e-Governmentbuilding, administrative reforms and labour productivity improvement, therebyhelping Vietnam create a favourable investment climate to attract more direct investmentfrom Japan.
Japan will also support Vietnam to improvemedical workers’ capacity within the framework of the Asia Health Initiative,he added.
The PMs welcomed the two countries’ launch ofnegotiations on a mutual legal assistance agreement on criminal matters andanother on the transfer of convicts.
They also agreed to foster collaboration inhealth care, education and labour, noting that Japan is ready to receive moreVietnamese practitioners. PM Phuc asked Japan to consider exempting income andresidence taxes on Vietnamese practitioners and create more favourableconditions for granting visas for tourists from Vietnam.
Regarding regional and international issues, theleaders pledged cooperation to ensure the success of the 10th Mekong – JapanSummit and promote ASEAN – Japan relations when Vietnam serves as the coordinatorof ASEAN – Japan ties for 2018 – 2021.
They affirmed the resolve to push theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)into force at an early date and to step up talks on the Regional ComprehensiveEconomic Partnership (RCEP).
At the talks, they also exchanged views on thesituation on the Korean Peninsula and other issues of shared concern, voicingthe support for relevant parties’ efforts to promote peace, stability anddenuclearisation in this peninsula.
As for the East Sea issue, PMs Phuc and Abereiterated the importance of ensuring security and safety of navigation andaviation, solving all disputes and differences by peaceful means on the basisof international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,fully and effectively implementing the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties inthe East Sea, and soon finalising a substantive, effective and legally binding Codeof Conduct in the East Sea.-VNA
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