This information was raised by Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide in a recent phone call with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
According to the Japanese embassy, during a phone conversation which lasted about 30 minutes, Mr. Suga „expressed his sincere thanks for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s great contributions as Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group for the development of relations between the two countries.
Mr. Suga added that „even in the context of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the world economy faces many difficulties and challenges as it is today, the number of Japanese businesses entering Vietnam continues to increase, the two countries have great potential to promote cooperation in all fields such as infrastructure construction, energy, environment, digital …
According to the news, the head of the Japanese government expressed his hope that relations with Vietnam „will grow stronger in the coming time in order to build a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
In a phone call on May 17, according to the Japanese embassy, PM Chinh „appreciated Japan’s effective cooperation and support for Vietnam’s development“ as well as „expressed his wish to promote promoting the relationship between the two countries, which is in the best stage of development ever, to become closer and closer in the spirit of the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
„The two Prime Ministers agreed to work closely together to further strengthen Japan-Vietnam relations towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023,“ Japan said.
In addition to bilateral issues, the two leaders also „exchanged on regional issues of mutual concern.“
According to the Japanese embassy, Suga „expressed deep concern and strong opposition to the ongoing and increasing unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, including China’s implementation of its Coast Guard Law.“
The leaders of the two countries are said to „have also discussed the situation in Myanmar, and affirmed that they will closely coordinate and support efforts towards solving the situation of ASEAN“ as well as „agreed to work together to working to resolve the Korean situation including the North Korean abduction of Japanese nationals.“
On the Vietnamese side, according to the Government Portal (VGP News), PM Chinh „suggested the two sides focus on promoting five areas of cooperation,“ one of which is „supporting as soon as possible contact access to supply and cooperation in technology transfer on COVID-19 vaccines.”
Chinh also „appreciated Japan’s effective cooperation and support for Vietnam’s development over the years and expressed his willingness to visit Japan again at an appropriate time.“
Last October, Mr. Suga made his first foreign trip to Vietnam as Prime Minister of Japan, and on the second day of the three-day trip, he visited and talked with students. Vietnam – Japan University, which the leader said is „a symbol for cooperation in the field of human resource training“ of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
“I am honored to speak before all the students studying at this school, who will be the future of Vietnam, ASEAN, and the world, on my first overseas trip after I took office,” the Japanese prime minister said, according to information from the university he visited.
He continued: “If you have a strong will, always give your best, and are lucky to have a friend who can compete and encourage each other similar to Japan and ASEAN, then you will be able to work together. develop together, open up new directions, and move forward together to realize our goals.”
Thoibao.de (Translated)
