Vietnam vows to foster relations with US, Japan
VOV.VN - Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 17 on the sidelines of the ongoing 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.
Meeting with the top US diplomat, the two ministers expressed their delight at the strong development of the Vietnam - US Comprehensive Partnership in recent times, noting the two countries have maintained visit exchanges and strengthened cooperation in various fields, including economy, trade, investment, green – clean energy, digital transformation, and infrastructure development.
Son affirmed that the US is one of Vietnam’s top partners, and hoped that the two sides would work together to deepen bilateral relations towards the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Partnership in 2023.
In order to further increase bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to increase visit exchanges at all levels and beef up cooperation in economy – trade, defense - security, education - training, as well as in overcoming war consequences, including the dioxin decontamination at Bien Hoa airport and the search for remains of Vietnamese soldiers missing in action during the past war.
Secretary Blinken for his part congratulated Vietnam on being elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for 2023-2025.
The two ministers agreed to coordinate at regional and international forums on issues of mutual concern, including strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and the Mekong sub-region.
During the meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi, the two ministers agreed to strengthen close coordination to realise the agreements reached between the two Prime Ministers at their November 12, 2022 meeting, including Japan’s early deployment of a new-generation ODA loan, and assistance to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, industrialization and modernization, and green transformation.
They agreed that the two countries would increase the exchange of high-level delegations, strengthen post-pandemic cooperation in various fields, and foster cultural and people-to-people exchanges, decentralilsed and tourism cooperation. They said the two sides would coordinate closely in organizing activities to celebrate 50 years of bilateral diplomacy in 2023.
Son suggested that Japan continue to simplify visa procedures and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to enter its territory, including receiving Vietnamese workers and interns to work in the country.
For his part, Hayashi affirmed that Vietnam has a leading position in the implementation of Japan’s foreign policy in the region. He highly appreciated Vietnam’s role and position in the region and the world, and assured Japan attaches great importance to and wishes to strengthen cooperation in all fields, while working closely with Vietnam to facilitate the export of the two countries’ agricultural products into each other’ markets.
The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. They agreed to closely coordinate in multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and APEC.
Son invited the Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Vietnam, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.