Vietnamese, Japanese PMs hold talks in Tokyo

• Vietnam plays important role in Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanism
• PM arrives in Tokyo for 10th Mekong-Japan Summit Meeting
• PM lauds Japan’s role in Mekong region development

The Vietnamese leader is on a trip to attend the 10th Mekong – Japan Summit and visit the Northeast Asian nation. At the talks, the two sides applauded the substantive expansion of the countries’ friendship and cooperation in all aspects like economy, politics, security – defence, agriculture and human resources training. They welcomed the numerous activities held to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties this year.

PM Phuc congratulated Abe on being re-elected President of the Liberal Democratic Party, expressing his belief that under the leadership of PM Abe, Japan will play an increasingly important role in the region and the world, and the countries’ relations will be reinforced even more strongly.

On behalf of the Japanese Government and people, the host offered the deepest condolences on the passing of former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi and President Tran Dai Quang. He spoke highly of the two’s contributions to bilateral connections.

At the event, the PMs agreed to continue to enhance political trust by maintaining high-level visits and meetings, and promote substantive defence – security cooperation, particularly in training manpower, transferring defence technology and equipment, military medicine, cyber security, joining United Nations peacekeeping missions, addressing war consequences through clearing unexploded ordnance and supporting dioxin victims in Vietnam, and sharing experience in building policies on sustainable sea-based economic development in Vietnam.

They agreed to push ahead with the countries’ economic connectivity in a mutually beneficial manner. Vietnam and Japan will step up partnerships in supporting industries, energy, hi-tech agriculture and high-quality infrastructure. They will create conditions for their fruits, including oranges and apples of Japan and lychees, longans and star apples of Vietnam, to enter each other’s markets. 
 
The leaders also discussed ways to accelerate some ongoing projects.

PM Abe said the Japanese Government attaches importance to the sustainable development of Vietnam and will make efforts to promote this through ODA and investment projects of Japanese businesses. His country will further assist the Southeast Asian nation in e-Government building, administrative reforms and labour productivity improvement, thereby helping Vietnam create a favourable investment climate to attract more direct investment from Japan.

Japan will also support Vietnam to improve medical workers’ capacity within the framework of the Asia Health Initiative, he added.

The PMs welcomed the two countries’ launch of negotiations on a mutual legal assistance agreement on criminal matters and another on the transfer of convicts.

They also agreed to foster collaboration in health care, education and labour, noting that Japan is ready to receive more Vietnamese practitioners. PM Phuc asked Japan to consider exempting income and residence taxes on Vietnamese practitioners and create more favourable conditions for granting visas for tourists from Vietnam.

Regarding regional and international issues, the leaders pledged cooperation to ensure the success of the 10th Mekong – Japan Summit and promote ASEAN – Japan relations when Vietnam serves as the coordinator of ASEAN – Japan ties for 2018 – 2021.

They affirmed the resolve to push the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) into force at an early date and to step up talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

At the talks, they also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other issues of shared concern, voicing the support for relevant parties’ efforts to promote peace, stability and denuclearisation in this peninsula.

As for the East Sea issue, PMs Phuc and Abe reiterated the importance of ensuring security and safety of navigation and aviation, solving all disputes and differences by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, and soon finalising a substantive, effective and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at their talks in Tokyo on October 8 (Photo: VNA)