Vietnam places importance on extensive strategic partnership with Japan

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while holding talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on July 4 in Tokyo on the sidelines of the 7th Mekong-Japan Summit.

PM Shinzo Abe expressed his nation’s desire to work closely together with Vietnam to enhance bilateral relations in a comprehensive, effective and substantive manner. The two prime ministers agreed to strengthen high-level exchange visits, consolidate political trust and effectively implement mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

PM Abe affirmed that the Vietnam – Japan relations are blossoming in various realms under the comprehensive strategic partnership, adding that Japan pledges to support Vietnam in developing high-quality infrastructure facilities.

PM Shinzo Abe said he looks to welcoming the Japan visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and will revisit Vietnam soon.

Regarding economic cooperation, the two leaders concurred to closely cooperate to effectively carry out key projects and early finalize a medium- and long-term vision for agricultural cooperation. Shinzo Abe pledged a high level of ODA provision for Vietnam’s sustainable development including the Cho Ray Hospital Project known as Vietnam-Japan Friendship Hospital.

Dung in turn expressed his thanks and appreciation for Japanese ODA funds worth US$3 billion for Vietnam’s projects in the first phase of the fiscal year 2015.

PM Shinzo Abe also committed to seriously consider Vietnam’s proposal on maintaining and increasing the level of assistance given to programmes on climate change adaptation, economic management and capability improvement and continue to assist the Southeast Asian nation in implementing a industrialization development strategy in the framework of Vietnam – Japan cooperation towards 2020 with a vision for 2030.

PM Dung also suggested the Japanese government actively support Vietnam in human resources development, encourage Japanese firms to engage in the Vietnam – Japan university project, receive more Vietnamese nurses and orderlies. He voiced his support for Japanese businesses’ research and investment in building a “smart urban area” in northern Hanoi.

Both sides reached a high consensus on the need for higher growth of trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism between the two countries.

They reaffirmed the determination to effectively implement large-scale projects as agreed by senior leaders and study the possibility of cooperation in the US$110 credit package announced by PM Abe in May 2015 to develop high quality infrastructure in Asia.

The two PMS compared notes on international and regional issues of shared concern and consented to step up cooperation at regional and global forums. Vietnam hails Japan's contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world for many decades, Dung told his host.

PM Dung said Vietnam supports "positive pacifism"of Japan for the goal of peace, security, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the wider world on the principle of respect for the UN Charter, international law, independence and sovereignty of countries for the sake of equal cooperation and mutual benefit and prosperity.

Both leaders expressed deep concern about the situation in the East Sea and underlined the importance of ensuring peace, security and safety and freedom of navigation and aviation.

They asked parties involved not to take more actions that complicate and increase disputes in the East Sea, strictly adhere to international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate the early formation of a Code of Conduct in East Sea (COC).

PM Abe emphasised his concern about the unilateral changing of status quo on large scale as well as the construction of military bases in the region, adding that Japan commits to getting involved in maintaining maritime and aviation order.

The two PMs said with the joint efforts and goodwill, they agreed to declare the fundamental completion of Vietnam- Japan negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). The two sides will spare no effort to deal with some remaining technical issues for an early conclusion of the TPP negotiations in the time ahead.

PM Dung extolled Japan's contributions to the success of the Mekong - Japan Summit with the adoption of the "Tokyo Strategy 2015" that has outlined orientations for cooperation mechanisms in the coming periods.

After the talks, the two government leaders witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation agreements.including a 66 billion JPY deal on providing loans for five projects in the 2014 fiscal year, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on the formation of a Joint Committee on collaboration in industry, trade and energy.

The same day, PM Dung and his delegation left Tokyo, concluding their working visit to Japan.