Vietnam- Japan relations have made great strides towards opening up a new stage, and will continue to grow and flourish in the future, according to Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Japanese Ambassador Yamada Takio. (Photo: VNA)
The Japanese diplomat made the statement in a recent media talk about the significance of the upcoming visit to Vietnam from April 30 to May 1 by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio as well as some key contents in the future bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
Regarding the key contents of PM Kishida Fumio's official visit to Vietnam this time, Ambassador Yamada Takio said Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has regularly visited Vietnam as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a member of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance. This is Kishida's first visit to Vietnam in his capacity as Japanese PM.
In particular, Prime Minister Kishida is set to meet with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, his longtime friend. This visit is made less than six months following PM Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Japan in November 2021.
The reason for such a short visit is because both leaders are key members of the Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and they have built a close-knit relationship based on mutual trust.
The two countries have recoded tremendous achievements across a variety of areas in less than half a year since PM Chinh's visit to Japan, even under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic
During the visit this time, PM Kishida will have frank discussions with Vietnamese Government leaders led by PM Pham Minh Chinh, through which the relationship between the two countries is greatly hoped to see stronger development in the time ahead.
Talking about the prospects for bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two countries in the coming time in a bid to further promote the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia, the ambassador stated that during PM Chinh's visit to Japan in November 2021, the two PMs affirmed that the Japan - Vietnam relationship boasts limitless potential, not only being a bilateral relationship but also a strategic partnership in the region and the world.
A joint statement toward the opening of a new era in the bilateral extensive strategic partnership for Asia's peace and prosperity and a list of specific cooperation projects of the two countries were also announced during the Vietnamese Government chief’s Japan visit.
Since PM Chinh's visit to Japan, the scope of cooperation has expanded from bilateral economic ties to cooperation on politics and security, as well as on regional and international issues.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese businesses still choose Vietnam as an investment destination. Asked about the issue, the Japanese diplomat said that in the context that investment activities around the world are disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese businesses are still highly interested in and eager to invest in the Southeast Asian nation.
The "Vietnam - Japan Investment Promotion Conference" held during PM Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Japan in November 2021 attracted the participation of 1,000 people in both face-to-face and online formats.
During the course of the event, 45 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with a total value of up to US$12 billion were exchanged. During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the investment heat of Japanese businesses in Vietnam, a country that is capturing attention thanks to the trend of diversifying the global supply chain, has been affirmed once again.
This result was achieved thanks to the growth potential, political stability, excellent human resources and cultural closeness between the two countries, Takio said.
He was also appreciative of Vietnam's efforts towards green growth and carbon emission reduction.
At the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), PM Chinh made a declaration on carbon neutral by 2050, therefore Vietnam must also continue to sketch out ideas to realize this goal in the future, the Japanese diplomat went on to say.
In line with this trend, during PM Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Japan, Japanese Environment Minister Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi and Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha signed a joint plan of action on Climate change towards the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050”.
Japan will promote comprehensive cooperation, with a particular focus on policies technology, and finance. A typical example of this cooperation is a power generation project with energy recovered from incineration, implemented by T&J Green Energy in Bac Ninh province. The launch and signing ceremony of this project was held in December 2021.
Under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) between the two countries, the Japanese Government will provide financial support for investment in equipment applying Japanese technology, continuing to contribute to Vietnam’s circular and zero carbon economy.
As many as 40 JCM projects have been approved in Vietnam, and Japan will continue to step up cooperation in this form in the coming time, he added.
