Four highlights from President Vo Van Thuong's visit to Japan: Foreign Minister
WVR - The official visit to Japan by President Vo Van Thuong and Spouse is meaningful and has become a hallmark, demonstrating the high level of good and developed relations between Vietnam and Japan. In short, it reaped "significant meaning, comprehensive results, substantive content in a plentiful program", said Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.
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Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Spouse made an official visit to Japan from November 27-30, 2023 at the invitation of the Japanese State.
The freshly-concluded visit has reaped significant and comprehensive achievements, demonstrating the high level development of bilateral ties, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told the press in an interview on the result of the visit.
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| President Vo Van Thuong and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. (Photo: Thong Nhat) |
Firstly, this is the first visit by President Vo Van Thuong as the head of state, serving as a hallmark in a series of about 500 events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties through the year.
Secondly, a highlight of the visit was the issuance of a joint statement on the elevation of the relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World”. The upgrade reflects the high political trust and maturity of the Vietnam-Japan relations, and opens up a new period of more substantive and effective development cooperation in all fields, for the sake of the two peoples, and for peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world.
Thirdly, both sides reached high consensus on major orientations for the bilateral ties. President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had an in-depth discussion during which they agreed on specific measures to strengthen multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, including strengthening all-level exchanges and contacts, further deepening cooperation in economy, trade, investment, official development assistance (ODA) and labor, strengthening collaboration in national defense and security, and expanding cooperation in such new spheres as emission reduction, clean energy, digital transformation and green transition.
The two countries will also step up people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities, and enhance coordination in regional and international issues of shared concern.
Japan reiterated its support for Vietnam to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Year 2027 and its willingness to coordinate with Vietnam to successfully organize this event.
On this occasion, the two sides signed five cooperation documents covering energy transition, health care, and the improvement of law enforcement capacity at sea, space technology and cultural heritage.
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| President Vo Van Thuong and Spouse Phan Thi Thanh Tam met with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan. (Source: VNA) |
Fourthly, nearly 40 activities within the visit reflects the high trust and closeness of the leaders, peoples and localities between the two countries.
The President, his Spouse and the Vietnamese delegation received a very respectful and special welcome from the Japanese State. The Emperor and Empress of Japan hosted a grand reception and exchanged cordial and respectful greetings with the President and his Spouse.
There have been many exchanges and contacts between the President and leaders of the Royal Family, the Government, the National Assembly and a large number of socio-economic organizations, friendship associations, and politicians who have made many contributions to the country. The President, Japanese leaders and friends attend the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations solemnly held at the Meiji Imperial Rest House.
According to Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, another highlight of the visit was the President’s delivering a keynote speech at the National Diet of Japan, in which he sent out a message to all Japanese leaders and public on an innovative, open, peace-loving Vietnam that aspires for development; its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, diversification multilateralization of relations, and being a friend, reliable partner and responsible member of the international community; and its wish to foster cooperation, share interests and development opportunities with Japan.
The minister expressed his belief that President Vo Van Thuong’s visit to Fukuoka prefecture will create new momentum for cooperation between Vietnamese localities and the Kyushu region.
On this occasion, the close meetings between the President and representatives, who have made contributions to bilateral relations, created great encouragement for the community of 520.000 Vietnamese people in Japan. This demonstrates the Party and State's policy of respect and support for the Vietnamese overseas, considered as an inseparable part and important resource of the nation.
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son in an interview about the results of the official visit to Japan by the President Vo Van Thuong and his Spouse. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
For the coming time, Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested the two countries focus on implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with priorities as followings:
First, raising political trust which can be achieved by maintaining annual high-level exchanges and contacts in many flexible forms and on all the Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels, creating a solid foundation for the bilateral ties in all aspects.
Second, they should put forth orientations for cooperation in specific fields such as fostering economic links; ensuring prosperity and economic security. Japan continues to support Vietnam’s industrialization, modernization, construction of an economy of independence, self-reliance; provide Vietnam with a new-generation ODA; facilitate Vietnamese enterprises to deeply participate in Japan’s global supply chains; and enhance large-scale, high-quality investment projects, including agriculture.
Both sides expand collaboration in emerging areas like semiconductor, innovation, technology transfer, digital transformation and green transition. Japan supports Vietnam to effectively conduct commitments, including net zero emission reduction in 2050.
The two countries are intensifying human resources connections, and promoting people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities to increase understanding, trust and substantive cooperation. Japan continues to support Vietnam in training high-quality human resources and strategic-level officials.
Third, to maintain their close coordination at regional and international organizations forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, Mekong, and APEC.
"I believe that the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will develop strongly and substantially in all fields, especially in the above three priority areas of cooperation, meeting the interests of the two sides and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world", the Foreign Minister said.
