VN, Japan shake hands to elevate ties

The event drew the attendance of Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organization Commission Pham Minh Chinh, and about 1,000 delegates. 

Addressing the event, the PM welcomed the Secretary who is also the Chairman of the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVPA) to lead the largest Japanese economic, cultural, and tourism delegation to Viet Nam. 

The host leader highlighted the special event which represented the robust and comprehensive ties. 

He pointed out major orientations for the two countries.

Firstly, the Vietnamese Government and people always regarded Japan as a powerful country, a leading and important partner. On the other hand, Japan considered Viet Nam as a leading partner in the region. Viet Nam served as the coordinating country in the ASEAN-Japan relations in the 2018-2021 term, ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, and a non-permanent member of the UNSC in the 2020-2021 term. 

Secondly, Viet Nam and Japan shared a large number of common benefits and enjoyed supplementary conditions rather than competitive ones. For example, Japanese people prefer fruits, seafood, shrimps, and tuna. In return, Vietnamese people favored Japanese electronics, motorbikes, and cars. So far, Japan was the largest ODA provider for Viet Nam, the second investor, and third tourism partner, and fourth biggest trade partner of Viet Nam. 

Thirdly, the two countries shared similar cultural values including chopsticks, tea drinking, hard-working, fondness for studying, and family values. So far, the Vietnamese overseas community ranked third with nearly 400,000 in Japan. In 2019, nearly 900,000 Japanese tourists arrived in Viet Nam. Meanwhile, 400,000 Vietnamese people visited Japan. 

Fourthly, Viet Nam and Japan passed the CPTPP Agreement with high and comprehensive standards for Japanese and Vietnamese enterprises to cooperate; boost investment; develop market; and engage in global value chains. 

Fifthly, the two countries should foster cooperation among the Government, National Assemblies, ministries, sectors, localities, and people-to-people relations. 

In reply, Secretary Nikai Toshihiro assessed the fine bilateral ties and eventful exchanges of people.  

On this occasion, the two leaders planted Oga lotus and witnessed a ceremony of Japanese book donation for some schools in the Central region./.  

By Kim Loan