Vietnam-Japan relations moving towards a new stage: Japanese Ambassador

The Japanese diplomat made the statement during a recent media talk about the significance of the upcoming visit to the nation from April 30 to May 1 by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, as well as some key contents for the future bilateral co-operation between the two sides.

Regarding PM Fumio's official visit to Vietnam, Ambassador Takio said the Japanese leader regularly visited the country as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a member of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance. This will mark PM Kishida's first visit to Vietnam in his capacity as Japanese PM.

Most notably, the Japanese PM is set to meet his Vietnamese counterpart and longtime friend Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The visit comes less than six months following PM Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Japan in November, 2021.

The reason for such a short visit is because both leaders are key members of the Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and have already been able to build a close-knit relationship based on mutual trust.

The two countries have recoded tremendous achievements across a variety of fields in less than half a year since PM Chinh's first visit to Japan, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

During the upcoming visit, PM Kishida will hold open discussions with Vietnamese Government leaders led by PM Pham Minh Chinh, through which they hope to see stronger development in the relationship between the two countries moving forward.

Discussing prospects for bilateral and multilateral co-operation between the two countries to further promote the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia, the Ambassador stated that during PM Chinh's visit to Japan in November, 2021, the two PMs affirmed that ties boasts limitless potential. Indeed, it is not only being a bilateral relationship, but also a strategic partnership.

A joint statement to mark the start of a new era in the bilateral extensive strategic partnership for Asian peace and prosperity, as well as a list of specific co-operation projects of the two countries was also announced during the Vietnamese Government leader’s visit to the East Asian nation.

Since PM Chinh's visit to Japan, the scope of co-operation has expanded from bilateral economic ties to co-operation on politics and security, as well as on regional and international issues.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese businesses continued to choose the Vietnamese market as an investment destination. Asked about the issue, the Japanese diplomat said that amid investment activities around the world being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese businesses remain highly interested in and eager to invest in the Southeast Asian nation.

The "Vietnam - Japan Investment Promotion Conference" held during PM Chinh's visit to Japan in November, 2021, attracted the participation of 1,000 people in both face-to-face and online formats.

During the course of the event, 45 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with a total value of up to US$12 billion were exchanged. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, investment interest of Japanese firms in the Vietnamese market, a country that has been capturing attention thanks to the trend of diversifying the global supply chain, has been affirmed once again.

This result was achieved thanks to growth potential, political stability, excellent human resources, and cultural closeness between the two countries, Ambassador Takio said.

He was also appreciative of Vietnamese efforts towards green growth and carbon emission reduction.

During the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), PM Chinh made a declaration for the country to be carbon neutral by 2050, therefore the nation must continue to plays ways to meet this goal, the Japanese diplomat stated.

In line with this trend, during PM Chinh's visit to Japan, Japanese Environment Minister Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi and Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha signed a joint plan of action on Climate change towards the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050.

Japan will strive to promote comprehensive co-operation, with a particular focus on policies, technology and finance, with the waste-to-energy plant project in Vietnam’s northern province of Bac Ninh as a typical example. The launch and signing ceremony of this project was held in December, 2021.

Under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) between the two countries, the Japanese Government will provide financial support for Vietnam to purchase equipment using Japanese technologies, and further contribute to the circular economy in the country.  

As many as 40 JCM projects have been approved in the nation, with Japan set to continue to ramp up co-operation in this form in the future, he added.