(VOVWORLD) - Cooperation on economics and COVID-19 prevention was the focus of talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and visiting Japanese Prime Miniser Suga Yoshihide, who also witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements between the two countries’ ministries and businesses.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Miniser Suga Yoshihide at the welcoming ceremony in Hanoi on October 19, 2020. |
Their talks followed a reception for Prime Minister Suga in Hanoi on Monday.
This was the first foreign trip since Prime Minister Suga took office. His predecessor Abe Shinzo also chose Vietnam as the first overseas destination as Prime Minister. This reflects Japan’s high value of the 'Extensive Strategic Partnership” with Vietnam established in 2014.
During their talks, the two Prime Ministers agreed to deepen their extensive strategic partnership, and support each other in the fight against coronavirus. They pledged to boost their economic links, especially in investment, trade, agriculture, and human resource development.
Prime Ministers Phuc and Suga promised to tighten cooperation at multilateral forums as Vietnam is the Chair of ASEAN for 2020 and a non-permanent UN Security Council member for the 2020-2021 term.
They reiterated the importance of peace, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), urging for a peaceful settlement of disputes, without using or threatening force, in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They advocated diplomatic and legal processes, a full realization of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and early adoption of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Prime Minister Phuc told reporters following the talks, “Vietnam and Japan will enhance political trust via frequent visits, exchanges, and dialogues, especially among high-ranking officials. We will promote our relations across spheres, including national defence, security, and economics, and work closely together in the battle against COVID-19 with the best possible conditions to revive bilateral cooperation.”
Prime Minister Suga said, “I’m glad to be here in Vietnam, my first overseas destination since being elected Japanese Prime Minister. Vietnam is the ASEAN Chair this year and a key player in Japan’s free and open Indo-Pacific Strategy. Japan, as an Indo-Pacific country, will contribute to regional peace and prosperity. I chose Vietnam because Vietnam is an ideal country from where I send this message to the whole world for the first time. We had constructive talks today during which we figured out the huge potential for further cooperation.”
Prime Minister Suga promised emergency assistance for central Vietnam which has been devastated by heavy downpour and flooding. Japan is willing to share its experience in mitigating disaster impacts, he said.
The two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of 12 cooperative agreements on justice, environment, counter-terrorism, industrial parks, among others.