President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at a press conference after their talks in Tokyo, Japan, on November 27, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

At a press conference the same day, President Thuong praised his successful talks with PM Kishida, where they reviewed friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two countries over the past half a century. The upgrading of bilateral ties, Mr. Thuong said, opens a new chapter in Vietnam-Japan relations. 

President Thuong said the two leaders agreed on major orientations for friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries in the coming time. 

“The two sides agreed to enhance economic connectivity, promote cooperation to ensure economic security, and expand cooperation to new areas such as innovation, technology transfer, digital transformation, and green transition,” he noted. “This will serve as the precondition for both countries to maintain and accelerate cooperation in Official Development Assistance (ODA).”

PM Kishida said that Japan’s ODA for Vietnam in 2023 will likely exceed 100 billion yen. He pledged further simplification of visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens and improved social security for the Vietnamese community in Japan. 

“I’m very glad to welcome President Vo Van Thuong in Japan  in an historic year when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. We have agreed to elevate bilateral ties for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. Bilateral relations should be further strengthened in the future,” he said. 

President Thuong and PM Kishida underlined the need to strengthen and maintain international order and freedom on the basis of respect for the rule of law, and closely coordinate in regional and global forums on issues of mutual concerns including the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) issue.

They agreed to support the maintenance of navigation and overflight security and safety as well as the settlement of all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.