Minister To Lam meets high-ranking Japanese officials

* At a meeting with Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan Terada Minoru, Minister To Lam said that, on the basis of the extensive strategic partnership, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and relevant Japanese agencies have maintained relations, implementing a number of practical and effective cooperation activities.

Implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of fire prevention and fighting signed in October 2018, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam has received a number of fire engines and special-use vehicles from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan, contributing to building capacity of nearly 30 police agencies in provinces and cities of Vietnam.

As complicated and unpredictable developments in extreme climate change can trigger instability, insecurity, natural disasters and fires that threaten the safety and lives of people, Minister To Lam expressed his wish that the two agencies would cooperate more and more closely, coordinate to improve their capacity to respond to and handle natural disasters in the coming time.

The two sides should strengthen the exchange of information, share experience in State management of fire prevention, fighting and rescue in high-rise buildings, on rivers, at sea and areas with complex terrain, difficult to access, and coordinate to respond to natural disasters, climate change.

In addition, the two sides should consider organizing joint exercises between forces of the two countries in responding to and handling natural disasters on a large scale in complex terrain while sharing experience in population data management, digital transformation, administrative reform.

* At the meeting between the Minister of Public Security and the Minister of Justice of Japan, Mr. Ken Saito highly appreciated the visit to Japan by Minister To Lam and the high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, emphasizing that Japan always attaches importance to cooperative relations with Vietnam, and expressed his wish that the cooperation between the two ministries would be strengthened and deepened, contributing to the Japan - Vietnam relationship.

Minister To Lam stated that the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Japan are two important law enforcement agencies of the two countries. 

Over the past time, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Japan have achieved some positive results, gradually expanding cooperation, and the signing of an Agreement on the transfer of prisoners sentenced to prison (effective August 19, 2020) is a good example.

In order to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in the coming time, Minister To Lam suggested that the two sides enhance the exchange and sharing of information and experience in fighting crime, protecting human rights, managing foreigners, immigration management, prison management.

Minister To Lam also hoped that the Japanese side will protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens in Japan, including the Vietnamese citizens imprisoned in Japan while closely coordinating with each other in preventing Vietnamese people from violating laws in Japan and Japanese people from violating Vietnamese laws in the country. 

The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam will closely coordinate and support Japan to successfully organize the Japan-ASEAN Justice Ministers Meeting later this year.

The Japanese Minister of Justice affirmed that, in the coming time, he will direct Japanese functional units to promote sharing of experience, exchange of delegations at all levels and organize joint drills.

* On the afternoon of the same day, Minister To Lam had a meeting with Japanese Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Toyoda Toshihiro. 

Commander of the Japan Coast Guard Ishii Shohei also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Minister To Lam said that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has a waterway police force, who has similar functions and tasks to the Japanese Coast Guard, such as fighting all kinds of crimes in internal waters and coastal areas, patrolling and ensuring traffic safety on waterways, participating in rescue, and responding to disasters.

Minister To Lam suggested that, in the coming time, the two sides should strengthen information exchange and share experience in law enforcement at sea, crime prevention and control, search and rescue, handling of natural disasters in the inland waters and coastal areas.

The Japanese side agreed with the proposal of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, affirming that they will closely coordinate with Vietnam in the fields of mutual interest.

* On the same day, Minister To Lam also had a meeting with the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, which was also attended by former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide.

At the meeting, Minister To Lam said that the Government and people of Vietnam highly appreciate and express their deep gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for supporting Vietnam in the process of national development through its ODA aid programs and projects over the past time.

Additionally, during the period when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out in Vietnam, Japan donated 7.6 million doses of vaccines to Vietnam, helping Vietnam control the disease and gradually recover the economy. 

Minister To Lam expressed his belief that with high political determination and the support of the Governments and peoples of the two countries, the relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan will continue to thrive in the future.

Minister To Lam suggested the Japanese side expand forms of exchange and cooperation between Japanese parliamentarians and Vietnamese National Assembly deputies, especially young parliamentarians of the two countries. 

* Earlier, Minister To Lam also met with Commander of the Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency Kazuhiro Maeda to discuss cooperation issues in the coming time.