Vietnam Japan concretise joint statement on comprehensive strategic partnership

The agreement was reached during talks in Tokyo on December 16 between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh who is in Tokyo for a commemorative summit marking 50 years of the friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and Japan.

They held that the recent lifting of Vietnam-Japan relationship to the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world during the November visit to Japan by President Vo Van Thuong would open up numerous opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas.

They agreed to consolidate political trust, maintain annual high-level exchanges and meetings, and increase practical and effective defence cooperation via the effective implementation of signed cooperation agreements.

The two PM took note of the positive progress in numerous key economic projects between the two countries in recent years, as well as Japanese ODA grants reaching over JPY100 billion in 2023 for the first time since 2017. They agreed to strengthen bilateral economic connectivity, ensure economic security, and establish a joint coordinating group between the two governments to step up the progress and efficiency of underway economic projects, including the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex.

Chinh proposed that Japan supply new-generation ODA loans for strategic infrastructure development projects in Vietnam, such as the North-South high-speed railway project, urban railways, supporting industries, new industrial zones, climate change adaptation, digital transformation, green transition, and health care among others.

He also proposed that Japan facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ engagement in the global supply chains of Japanese businesses, particularly in the fields of automobile, electronics, health care and apparel. He expected that both Vietnam and Japan streamline inspection procedures to open the market for Vietnamese pomelos and Japanese grapes to enter each other’s markets.

Kishida, for his part affirmed that Japan would continue to assist Vietnam in industrialisation and modernisation, and building an independent, self-reliant economy that deeply integrates into the global community, towards successfully realising its industrialisation and modernisation strategy.

The two PMs consented to facilitate human resource training collaboration, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, local cooperation, and tourism.

Chinh on this occasion asked Japan to relax entry requirements and move towards visa exemptions for Vietnamese citizens entering its territory.

Meanwhile, Kishida assured that Vietnam's workforce, including high-quality labourers and skilled apprentices, is indispensable for Japan’s socio-economic development.

Both sides expressed their satisfaction at the upcoming organisation of a specific skills exam for apprentices in Vietnam.

The two sides also vowed to continue close coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concerns, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, and development in the region and the wider world.

PM Chinh spoke highly of Japan's hosting of an Asia Zero Emission Community Initiative (AZEC) high-level conference within the framework of the ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit.

After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries, which involved the fourth loan agreement for Ho Chi Minh City's urban railway construction project (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien section), the Japan Development Scholarship (JDS) project, and the equipment supply project for Vietnam’s K Hospital with a total grant of JPY42.3 billion (nearly US$300 million).