Hanoi (VNA) – The official visit to Japan by President Vo Van Thuong from November 27-30 will make contributions to deepening relations between Vietnam and Japan in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, trade and investment.
Vietnam and Japan officially set up diplomatic ties on September 21, 1973. Over the past 50 years, the friendship and cooperative relations between the two countries have intensified and developed in various fields, becoming a vivid illustration for the Vietnamese Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations.
Japan – a reliable political partner
Since the diplomatic relations were established, Vietnam and Japan have lifted the framework of the bilateral ties from a "Trusted, long-term stable partnership" (2002) to a “Strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" (2009), and then to an "Extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" (2014).
Increasing political trust and mutual understanding have laid a strong foundation for both sides to bolster sound collaboration in various fields.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio who pays an official visit to Vietnam (May 1, 2022). (Photo: VNA) Japan is currently a leading partner of Vietnam in politics, economy, defence-security, culture, education, labour, and tourism.
Leaders of the two nations have maintained regular visits and contacts at international and regional forums, helping to consolidate their mutual trust.
Additionally, cooperation between ministries, sectors, branches and localities of Vietnam and Japan as well as people-to-people exchanges have been promoted with positive outcomes.
The Yosakoi Summer Festival 2023 draws the attention of many Vietnamese youths. (Photo: VNA) Particularly, both countries have organised nearly 500 activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
At the ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations on September 21, Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat, Chairwoman of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, underscored people-to-people exchanges spanning over 13 centuries and 50 years of cooperation and development.
Vietnam and Japan hold a trustworthy and close partnership covering various fields from politics, economy, trade, to investment, human resources, culture, education, and science and technology, she said.
Mai, who is also Chairwoman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians Group, said the growth of the ties reflects the aspirations for peace, development and prosperity of the two countries, contributing to similar progress in the region and the world.
Vietnam has seen Japan as its important and long-term partner, Mai said, expressing her belief that they will continue their future journey of more cohesive and effective cooperation, thanks to the sincere, heart-to-heart connection between their people, and the support and consensus of their leaders.
During her first trip to Vietnam in October after she took office in the previous month, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko affirmed that Japan treasures and wants to promote the bilateral ties in a stronger and more practical way in all sectors, and suggested both sides continue deepening the Vietnam – Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership.
Besides the exchange of high-ranking delegations, the two countries have maintained many dialogue mechanisms, including the Vietnam – Japan Cooperation Committee co-chaired by the two foreign ministers since 2007, the Strategic Partnership Dialogue on Diplomacy – Security – Defence at the Deputy Foreign Ministerial Level since 2010, the Deputy Ministerial Dialogue on Defence since November 2012, and the Deputy Ministerial Dialogue on Security since November 2013, and the Vietnam – Japan Ocean Dialogue at the Ministerial Level since December 2019.
They have worked closely at international and regional forums such as the UN, ASEAN Plus Summit, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), contributing to regional peace, stability and development and in line with Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilaterisation.
Japan – a leading important economic partner
Japan is the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, and the second largest labour partner, third largest investor and tourism partner, and fourth largest trading partner of the Southeast Asian country.
It is also the first G7 country to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio witness the exchange of Appendix 19 of the consulting contract under the project to build Ho Chi Minh City’s metroline No.1 on May 1, 2022. (Photo: VNA) As the biggest ODA supplier for Vietnam, Japan has channelled 29.3 billion USD in ODA into the Southeast Asian country, accounting for around 30% of the total funding from foreign donors to the nation. Some 1.8 billion USD of which was non-refundable aid.
The Japanese capital has contributed greatly to developing key infrastructure projects, sustainably promoting socio-economic development, and supporting the transfer of advanced technologies and high-quality human resources training.
Regarding trade ties, both sides have given each other the most favoured nation (MFN) tax rates since 1999.
In the first nine months of 2023, two-way trade topped 32.9 billion USD, including 17.2 billion USD from Vietnamese exports and 15.7 billion USD worth of imports. The two countries have enjoyed increasing trade revenue over years, with the value recorded at 40 billion USD in 2020; 42.7 billion USD in 2021; and 47.6 billion USD in 2022.
Most of Japan’s purchases are transport vehicles and spare parts, wood and wooden products, seafood, computers, electronic products and parts which are of Vietnam’s strengths. Meanwhile, it has exported motorcycles, cars, machines and equipment to Vietnam.
As of September 20, Japan had invested 71.3 billion USD in 5,198 projects in Vietnam, becoming the third largest foreign investor in the country. During the January – September period, Japan poured some 2.9 billion USD into Vietnam, up 50% year-on-year, while Vietnam had 106 investment projects in the East Asian country worth around 19.5 million USD.
The two nations have enjoyed strong cooperation in agriculture, climate change response, and education-training.
Vietnam was the first country in the world to add Japanese language to the curricula of secondary schools in 2008 and primary schools in 2019. Japan, meanwhile, is one of the largest ODA provider for Vietnam’s education.
Currently, there are more than 51,000 Vietnamese students pursuing study in Japan.
Japan has supported Vietnam to upgrade four universities, and is working to develop Vietnam-Japan University, helping the country train high-quality human resources in the fields of science-technology, management and service.
Collaboration between localities has been strengthened, with more than 110 cooperative documents signed. Notable cooperatives ties include those between Ho Chi Minh City and Osaka (established in 2007) and Nagano (2017); Hanoi and Fukuoka (2008) and Tokyo (2013); Da Nang and Sakai (2009) and Yokohama (2013); Phu Tho and Nara (2014); Hue and Kyoto (2014); Hung Yen and Kanagawa (2015); and Hai Phong and Niigata (2015).
Japan is one of the world’s largest tourism markets with 18 million travelling abroad every year before the COVID-19 broke out. As a favourite destination for Japanese visitors, Vietnam welcomes some 1 million Japanese visitors each year.
The official visit to Japan by President Vo Van Thuong is a milestone in the bilateral relations over the last 50 years.
According to Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio, President Thuong’s visit conveys the message that the cooperation between Vietnam and Japan is not only a bilateral relationship but also contributes to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
Spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said the visit aims at strengthening collaboration in new areas such as green transition, innovation and digital transformation. These moves would consolidate the bilateral relations for the benefits of the two nations’ people as well as for peace, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.
During his stay, President Thuong will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and high-ranking Japanese leaders.
He will also deliver a speech at the National Diet of Japan, and attend a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and other important activities, she added./.
