Vietnamese PM’s Japan trip to outlines orientations for relations in new period

PM Chinh will lead a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam to attend the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, as well as holding bilateral activities in Japan from December 15 to December 18.

As part of this occasion, a VOV correspondent in Tokyo interviewed Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu regarding the purpose and activities related to this visit.

According to Ambassador Hieu, over the past five decades ties between the bloc and the East Asian nation have developed comprehensively and dynamically across a multitude of fields such as politics, security, economics, trade, investment, culture, social affairs, and development co-operation.

Japan is widely considered to be a reliable, substantive, and effective partner, as well as being the second largest foreign direct investor and fourth largest trade partner of ASEAN.

In line with this, they advocate solidarity, unity, and the central role of ASEAN, launching practical co-operation activities to support the bloc in building a community.

PM Chinh's attendance at the summit takes place amid both sides commemorating their 50th anniversary of relations which was held immediately after the establishment of the joint comprehensive strategic partnership.

This also marks an opportunity for both sides to become more aware of the meaning and importance of their relationship, thereby further improving the overall quality and effectiveness of linkages in the future.

Vietnam is an active and proactive member of the bloc, always supporting the strong development and closer connection of mutual relations, Ambassador Hieu went on to say.

Recent times has seen relations between the nation and Japan continue to enjoy strong and comprehensive development across multiple fields, with high political trust and close high-level exchanges being held at all levels.

Most notably, the two countries moved to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership for the cause of peace and prosperity in Asia and the world during the visit of President Vo Van Thuong at the end of November.

Given such a very strong relationship exists between the two countries, PM Chinh's Japan visit to attend the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation will make an important contribution to the overall success of the event and further promote joint ties within the framework of the newly established comprehensive strategic partnership.

The visit is therefore expected to continue to provide added impetus to further strengthen co-operation between the two countries in the fields of economics, trade, investment, and labour, thereby developing ties in a more substantial fashion and bringing about many practical benefits to both nations’ people.

Regarding the current Japan - ASEAN relations, the Vietnamese diplomat assessed that the dialogue partnership between the bloc and Japan was first established in 1973. In 1977, Prime Minister T. Fukuda announced the historical Fukuda theory that laid out the basic principles of Japan's foreign policy towards ASEAN. Since then, his "heart to heart" diplomacy has become the "fulcrum" for the two side’s relationship.

Over the course of the next 50 years, ASEAN and Japan have since built a co-operative relationship spanning many fields and become trusted partners of each other.

The basis for building trust is that both sides always value the relationship and consider each other as equal partners. ​Over recent years, the East Asian country has always actively promoted the strategic partnership and effective collaboration with ASEAN.

On the contrary, the bloc always needs Japanese support to build a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asia region. Over half a century, both sides have become indispensable partners, thereby bringing about plenty of great mutual benefits.

In terms of economics, Japan has long been one of ASEAN's "most reliable" economic partners, whilst also being the fourth largest trade partner and second largest investment partner of ASEAN.

Along with economic relations, the Japanese side also plays an important role in financial ties with countries in the bloc. Through the ASEAN+3 framework established in 1999, Japan has supported ASEAN during the difficult period of the financial and monetary crisis in Asia.

Japan and ASEAN have developed their relationship, not only as major trade and investment partners, but also as true friends with a "heart to heart" relationship built through numerous people-to-people exchange activities.

Currently, the total number of members of ASEAN Council of Japan Alumni (ASCOJA) stands at more than 50,000 people.

Since 2007, the Japan - East Asia Youth Exchange Program Japan – East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths (JENESYS) has also invited about 47,000 students from Southeast Asia to Japan, both in person and online, in order to visit, study and vice versa.

Moreover, the Japan Foundation has carried out roughly 2,500 projects in the field of culture and arts as a means of contributing to intensifying people-to-people exchanges between Japan and ASEAN member states.

With regard to the Vietnamese role in promoting mutual relations, especially as the country helped in co-ordinating this relationship in the 2018 to 2021 period,  Ambassador Hieu emphasised that as an active member of the bloc, Vietnam is always proactive in promoting the consolidation and upgrading ASEAN - Japan relations. Indeed, the Vietnamese side is keen to help deepen the relationship whilst developing it in an effective, substantive, and mutually beneficial direction.

When Japan proposed organising the Commemorative Summit and establishing the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, the country quickly supported it and always actively and promptly contributes to concretising these proposals, thereby ensuring the correct roadmap that both sides set out at the beginning of the year.

One of Vietnam's most outstanding contributions to strengthening ASEAN – Japan ties is attributable to the nation’s successful assumption of its coordinating role for ASEAN - Japan relations in the period 2018 - 2021, with unprecedented difficulties and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Vietnam has implemented coordination work creatively, in accordance with the context of the situation and the need for cooperation, bringing practical benefits to both sides, especially Japan's contribution of US$50 million to the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), announced in 2020, the same year Vietnam severing as ASEAN Chair.

According to the Ambassador, the upgrading of bilateral relations between Vietnam and Japan will have positive impacts on Japan - ASEAN relations.

As a responsible member of ASEAN, since joining this organization in 1995, Vietnam has made many important contributions to the growth of the regional grouping.

Upgrading the Vietnam - Japan relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world will not only reinforce bilateral relations in the time ahead but also actively contribute to further pushing up ASEAN - Japan relations, thus bringing practical benefits to the people of Japan, Vietnam and ASEAN, Hieu concluded.