Vietnam – Japan promote cooperation after Covid-19

During his official visit to Vietnam, on May 1, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, greeted General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and met with President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Vuong Dinh Hue Association and attended the Vietnam – Japan cooperation seminar in technology innovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification.

Opening a new stage of development

At the talks, the two Prime Ministers expressed their delight at the outstanding development of Vietnam-Japan relations and reached a broad common understanding on the major directions and measures to further deepen the cooperation. in all fields, opening a new stage of development for the Vietnam – Japan extensive strategic partnership.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that Vietnam consistently considers Japan as an extensive, reliable and important strategic partner. Prime Minister Kishida Fumio reaffirmed the importance of relations with Vietnam and highly appreciated the socio-economic development achievements, position and increasingly important role of Vietnam in the region and in the world.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to promote cooperation in post-Covid-19 economic recovery, soon agreeing and effectively implementing the new generation ODA loan program for the fields of strategic infrastructure construction, transportation infrastructure, etc. communication, digital transformation, response to climate change, health; partner initiatives for technology innovation, supply chain strengthening, digital transformation.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, agriculture, energy and environment; speeding up the procedures for Japan to announce the opening of the market for Vietnamese longans to be exported to Japan in September 2022, continuing to create favorable conditions for other fruits such as pomelos, avocados, and rambutans to be exported. to Japan; strengthen cooperation and technology transfer for Vietnam to participate more deeply in global and regional supply chains; support Vietnam to accelerate digital transformation; make the commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050; continue to promote security and defense cooperation; participating in UN peacekeeping operations, overcoming the consequences of the war in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio attend a Vietnam – Japan cooperation seminar in technology innovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification Photo: Huu Hung

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio affirmed to continue to cooperate and comprehensively support Vietnam in socio-economic development; supporting Vietnam in developing key infrastructure such as road traffic infrastructure, urban railways and North-South high-speed railways, combating climate change, converting energy…; expanding the reception of technical interns and international students from Vietnam to Japan; supporting the Vietnamese community to live, study and work in Japan.

Benefit both countries

The two Prime Ministers emphasized the importance of cooperation after Covid-19; agreed to promote cultural, people-to-people exchanges and tourism, and agreed to closely coordinate activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023, commensurate with the strategic partnership. extensive.

After the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the exchange of 22 cooperation documents between the ministries, branches, localities and businesses of the two countries.

On this occasion, the two sides agreed to approve the Update on cooperation progress covering 8 areas: health cooperation (including Covid-19 prevention), investment and trade, ODA and infrastructure, and communication. people flow, environment and response to climate change, judicial cooperation, defense and security, cultural cooperation, education.

The update assesses that most of the agreements and projects agreed by the two sides during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Japan have made positive progress (earth observation satellite project, HCMC urban railway line No. , strengthening Vietnam – Laos connection, digital transformation initiative, technology innovation cooperation partnership initiative, supply chain strengthening initiative, Covid-19 prevention support, defense and security cooperation , handling piracy issues, resumption of commercial routes…).

Assessing that Vietnam holds an increasingly important position in the global supply chain, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said that out of a total of 92 projects to diversify supply chains supported by Japan in ASEAN, Vietnam ranks first. with 39 projects.

“The possibility of cooperation between Vietnam and Japan is unlimited. Last January, Japan announced the “Asia Future Investment Initiative” and I look forward to working with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to promote the relationship. stronger relationship between the two countries, bringing benefits to both countries” – Prime Minister Kishida Fumio emphasized.