PM grants interview to Japanese press agencies ahead G7 summit

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Regarding prospects of the G7 Summit and main issues to be discussed with the Japanese counterpart, PM Phuc said he expected that nations joining the Summit will contribute their voices and actions to consolidate the sustainable and peaceful environment as well as address global issues such as sustainable development goals, infrastructure, natural calamity prevention, response to climate change, anti-terrorism, food security, water resources, maritime and aviation.

He said the two PMs will exchange specific measures to enhance the two nations’ cooperation in all areas, including political trust, economics, trade, investment, official development assistance (ODA), auxiliary industry, agriculture, natural calamity prevention, response to climate change, health, education, science and technology.

Viet Nam pursues a consistent diplomatic policy with Japan, he said, expressing his hope that the the visit will create impetus to upgrade the Viet Nam-Japan relations in a more extensive and effective manner for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Major orientations for developing Viet Nam-Japan relations

When asked about his assessment of Viet Nam-Japan relations and orientations for the relationship in the future, PM Phuc highlighted breakthrough developments in the two nations’ relations over the recent 43 years, including the two-way trade turnover reaching US$28 billion in 2015, Japan’s total investment of US$39 billion in more than 3,000 projects in Viet Nam and nearly 700,000 Japanese visitors doing Viet Nam in 2015.

He stressed five orientations in the Viet Nam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership relations as followings:

Firstly, both sides will work together to deploy action plans of six industry sectors in the Viet Nam Industrialization Strategy within the Viet Nam-Japan cooperation framework till 2020, with a vision to 2030. Viet Nam hopes Japan to actively help promote the auxiliary industry.

Secondly, economic connections will be enhanced through cooperation in trade and investment to double the two-way trade value by 2020 as announced in the Joint Declaration in 2014 and the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA).

The establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, the two nations’ participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will pave the way for both sides’ businesses to boost cooperation and investment.

Thirdly, Viet Nam expects Japan to maintain the high rate of the ODA, especially that for infrastructure, human resource development, natural calamity prevention, response to climate change, environmental issues, management capacity enhancement, effective implementation of large-scaled projects, economic restructuring and sustainable growth.

Viet Nam applauds Japan’s implementation of the “Partnership for Quality Infrastructure” in Asia, which is initiated by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, hoping that it will become a prioritized partner of Japan in the program.

Fourthly, cooperation in agriculture, science and technology will be promoted to facilitate technology transfer and high-quality human resource training for sustainable development.

Fifthly, cooperation in responding to natural calamity and climate change will be strengthened as Viet Nam has been seriously suffered from consequences of climate change such as droughts and sea-water intrusion in the Southern Central region, Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta.

The Vietnamese Government and people are making efforts to build a nation of friendship, peace, stability, and a dynamic economy with strong commitments to improving the business and investment environment and competitiveness.

Despite difficulties and challenges in the future, Viet Nam will enhance renovation works in the context of intensive international integration as well as uphold its advantages to successfully establish a country of rich people, strong nation, democracy, equality and civilization.

The Government and the PM will renew and increase the leadership and management methods and effectiveness, complete the institutions and policies, ensure civilization and transparency, strengthen anti-corruption and anti-waste, accelerate administrative procedure reform, improve the business and investment environment and create favorable conditions for peoples and businesses, he stressed.