Tokyo (VNA) – Friendship and mutual trust basedon people-to-people exchanges nurtured for many years have formed an impetusfor the Vietnam - Japan relations, said Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs KamikawaYoko.

She made the remark in a recent interview granted to theVietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of thetwo countries’ diplomatic ties (September 21, 1973 - 2023).

She said that over the last 50 years, the countries have developedrelations in all fields thanks to tireless efforts by predecessors. One of themost important milestones of bilateral ties, which are now in their prime, wasthe elevation of relations to the “extensive strategic partnership” in 2014.

Since then, Japan and Vietnam have been building strategic connections in more areas, Kamikawa went on, adding that from focusing only on economicaffairs like official development assistance (ODA) provision, bilateral cooperation hasbeen fostered in such fields as security, energy, and human resourcesdevelopment in Vietnam, helping enhance mutual trust between the two countries.

The official noted that in this year, which marks the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the two countries have affirmed the intention to liftthe “extensive strategic partnership” to a new level. Together with manycelebratory events held in both countries, Crown Prince Akishino and his spouse will visit Vietnam, and the trip will further deepen the friendship and amity between both nations.  

Kamikawa expressed her belief that 2023 will be an importantlandmark in the next 50 years of bilateral relations.

Suggesting measures for further developing bilateral connections,the Foreign Minister said Japan and Vietnam should particularly strengthenpeople-to-people exchanges, economic links, and cooperation in advanced areas.

In termsof people-to-people exchanges, they need to work closely together so that theabout 500,000 Vietnamese people in Japan can play a more active role in thelocal society. When the numbers of Vietnamese people, restaurants, andgroceries in Japan grow, opportunities for the two countries’ people tointeract with each other have also increased, thus making Vietnam a familiar country with Japanese people.

Regarding economic links, it is important to create afavourable environment for private investments between the countries, theofficial remarked, saying she believes a ripe economic relationship meanscompanies can conduct healthy economic activities in each other’s countrieswithout the governments’ intervention.

Japanese enterprises will increasingly wish to invest inVietnam. One necessary condition for economic relations to ripen is that the two governments coordinate with each other and create an investment climate helpingsecure mutual benefits for both sides, according to Kamikawa.

In addition, she also underlined the importance of enhancingcooperation in environment and clean energy to deal with such global issues asclimate change, along with in aerospace and new technology sectors.

There remains much cooperation potential in these areas, shecontinued, voicing her belief that bilateral relations will become evenstronger when cooperation is boosted in advanced areas.

Duringthe interview, the minister said the international community is facing ahistoric turning point when geopolitical conflicts and global issues are growing increasingly serious. As maintaining andconsolidating a free and open law-based international order becomes more and more important, theimportance of Japan - Vietnam cooperation in the international arena and atmultilateral forums is also rising accordingly.

It is of great significance for both countries to coordinate closelyat international and multilateral forums to help secure peace and prosperity inthe region and the world, including promoting the respect for law, navigationfreedom, trade liberalisation, and regional connectivity, she added./.