In an interview with VOV correspondent, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the visit aims to raise comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefit as both countries celebrate their 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties: “Both countries’ leaders and people believe that their bilateral relations are at the finest development in history. We still have more potential for further bilateral ties as Japan holds an important position in our Party and State’s development path while both countries have actively negotiated towards the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.”

President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse (Photo: VOV.VN)

The Ambassador that Vietnam and Japan share similarities on the East Sea issue. Vietnam respects Japan’s constant view in support of Vietnam in settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means without using force or threat to use force while respecting international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

President Tran Dai Quang has spoken to a number of Japanese correspondents from Japanese media agencies including the NHK, Kyodo News, and Jiji Press before his state visit to Japan next week.  

He said during the visit from May 29 to June 2, both sides will discuss ways to boost bilateral ties, especially political trust building, trade, investment, defense, security and civic exchanges. They will leverage potential to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity and mutual benefit while strengthen cooperation in international and regional forums as Vietnam will be a coordinating country for the ASEAN-Japan relations from 2018 to 2021. The President called for more efforts to effectively implement the Vietnam Japan Economic Partnership Agreement to double trade revenue by 2020 compared to 2014.

He expected continued ODA support from Japan, especially in infrastructure, highly skilled workforce, environment, climate change and sustainable energy.

Regarding regional peace and security, the President said that both Hanoi and Tokyo have sought to support each other in regional peace, stability and development, while emphasizing the importance of peace, security, navigation and aviation freedom and safety in the East Sea, resolving disputes peacefully based on international law, including the including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea in 2002 towards a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

As both countries are parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord, he said it will be a major driving force for trade to boost deep and wide strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan for peace and prosperity in Asia.