Japanese PM’s Vietnam visit demonstrates high mutual trust between both nations

Thứ Hai, 19/10/2020, 17:40
Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide's official visit to Vietnam shows high mutual trust and close cooperation between Vietnam and Japan with a desire to take bilateral relations to new heights in the time ahead.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and his wife arrive in Hanoi for their official visit to Vietnam from October 18-20

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and his wife arrive in Hanoi for their official visit to Vietnam from October 18-20

On the morning of October 19, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is due to host a welcoming ceremony in Hanoi for Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and his wife who are paying an official visit to Vietnam from October 18- 20.

This is his first overseas trip by PM Suga since he took office last month and the second consecutive time that a Japanese prime minister has selected Vietnam as his first overseas destination after taking office.

Since Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic ties on September 21, 1973, the bilateral relationship has experienced rapid developments over the past years, with similarities in culture, history and tradition being important factors that connects the two countries and two peoples.

After nearly half a century, the Vietnam-Japan friendship relationship has been continuously cultivated by generations of leaders and people of the two countries, becoming a valuable common property of both nations.

Vietnam and Japan established a reliable, long-term stable partnership in 2002 which was upgraded to a sustainable partnership only two years later.

Both nations set up a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in 2009. Japan is also the first G-7 country to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam and recognize the Southeast Asian nation's market economy status.  Vietnam and Japan issued a joint statement on the establishment of an extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Regarding the Vietnam-Japan relationship, many analysts say that the relationship between the two countries is now at its best in history with high confidence, as shown by their senior leaders' regular exchange visits.

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has made four visits to Vietnam and under the leadership of Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, Vietnam-Japan relations have made great strides during the past decade.

Japan is Vietnam’s leading important economic partner, the largest official development assistance (ODA) provider, second biggest investor, third largest tourism partner and fourth largest trade partner.

In terms of education, Japan is one of the countries that have granted the largest non-refundable aid to Vietnam’s education and training sector. More than 80,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the country.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have maintained all-level exchanges in different forms, with PM Phuc holding phone talks with many senior leaders of Japan to discuss measures against the pandemic.

Most recently, on September 15, 2020, Vietnam and Japan reopened commercial routes with 4 flights per week. Currently, competent agencies of both countries are considering priority travel regulations for businessmen, investors, experts, and engineers who have short-term working periods.

The Japanese PM’s visit is believed to offer an opportunity for Vietnam to prove its safety and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, while promoting the nation’s achievements in reform and socio-economic development, as well as efforts in improving its international profile and carrying out the foreign policy and international integration amid the global fluctuations caused by the pandemic.

VOV