Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: VNA) PM Suga congratulated Phucon his election as President of Vietnam, pledging that Japan will continue withits close cooperation with and assistance to Vietnam in development in the timeahead.
In that spirit, theJapanese government has decided to present a cold storage system for COVID-19vaccines worth 200 million JPY (1.84 million USD) as non-refundable to Vietnam,he said.
Japan will also providemarine scientific research vessels for Vietnam, and open its Consulate Generalin the central city of Da Nang in 2022, the PM added.
For his part, President Phuc appreciatedPM Suga’s selection of Vietnam for his first overseas trip since taking officelast October, and expressed his delight at the strong and comprehensivedevelopment with high political trust of the bilateral ties.
In its foreign policy, Vietnamalways considers Japan as a strategic, long-term and leading important partner, heaffirmed.
President Phuc used this occasion toinvite the Japanese Emperor and Empress to visit Vietnam.
The President spokehighly of Japan’s effective and practical cooperation in Vietnam’ssocio-economic development, including its donated cold vaccine storage equipment. He also called forJapan’s collaboration and support in COVID-19 vaccines to facilitate Vietnam’svaccinations and assistance to the Vietnamese community in Japan.
In this regard, PM Suga saidJapan will assist and cooperate with Vietnam to ensure necessary vaccines, andfurther support Vietnamese apprentices in his country.
The two leaders agreed tostep up exchanges and meetings at all levels, especially the high level, and improvethe efficiency of cooperation mechanisms.
They will also work topress ahead with the implementation of the Comprehensive and ProgressiveAgreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), enhance connectivity ininvestment and trade, expand collaboration in agriculture and labour, andcooperation between localities, while joining hands in preparing for celebrationsof the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.
The leaders consentedthat in the context of Vietnam working as a non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council for 2020-2021 and coordinator of ASEAN-Japan relations in2018-2021, the two countries need to further their close cooperation atmultilateral forums, especially the UN and ASEAN, and strengthen collaborationwithin the Mekong-Japan framework.
They also exchangedviews on regional and international issues of shared concern, including theEast Sea issue./.
VNA
