Vietnamese PM arrives in Tokyo for ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit
VOV.VN - A high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo on December 15 to attend a commemorative summit marking half a century of the friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and Japan at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Chinh’s working trip to Japan takes place in a special context after Vietnam - Japan upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during the Japan visit in November 2023 by President Vo Van Thuong, and after ASEAN and Japan officially established the comprehensive strategic partnership at the 26th ASEAN - Japan Summit in Indonesia in September 2023. Notably, both Vietnam and ASEAN established diplomatic relations with Japan in 1973.
At the commemorative summit this year, senior leaders of both sides will review the achievements of cooperation, and set out directions for developing relations in the new period. They are scheduled to adopt a vision statement on ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation, and a plan of action to implement the vision statement.
ASEAN - Japan relations have over the past 50 years developed comprehensively and dynamically in all fields, such as politics, security, economics, trade, investment, culture, social affairs and development cooperation. Japan has deeply engaged in regional political and security cooperation mechanisms, and it has supported solidarity as well as the central role of ASEAN.
Economic and investment cooperation between ASEAN and Japan is implemented through many different mechanisms, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP). Japan is also an active partner contributing to the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and supporting efforts to narrow the development gap in ASEAN.
In 2022, Japan was the fourth largest trading partner and second largest FDI investor in ASEAN, with two-way trade turnover reaching US$268.5 billion. Total Japanese FDI into ASEAN hit US$26.7 billion, up 27.7% compared to the previous year.
Vietnam is an active and responsible member in ASEAN and in promoting Japan - ASEAN relations, especially after Vietnam assumed its role as coordinator of ASEAN - Japan relations in the 2018 – 2021 period.
Bilaterally, Vietnam - Japan relations are developing strongly and comprehensively in all fields with high political trust and through high-level exchanges. 2023 is an important milestone when the two countries are celebrating 50 years of establishing their diplomatic relations.
As of September 20, 2023, Japan’s cumulative FDI into Vietnam reached US$71.3 billion with 5,198 valid projects, ranking third out of 143 countries and territories investing in the country.
