Overview of the press conference (Source: VNA) Tokyo (VNA) – Japan will continue itsstrong support for Vietnam’s sustainable development, focusing on constructinghigh-quality infrastructure, improving economic competitiveness and traininghuman resources for the country, said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
PM Abe was speaking at a meeting with thepress together with President Tran Dai Quang following their talks in Tokyo onMay 31.
The PM said he and President Quang agreed tostep up cooperation in the areas that directly benefit Vietnamese people likemedical collaboration within the framework of the Asian health initiative, andcultural and sport exchanges, including Japanese language teaching programmes.
He described President Quang’s visit as asymbol of cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
The host said he and the Vietnamese Stateleader will take advantage of the visit in order to join hands to further boostthe Vietnam-Japan relationship across sectors.
PM Abe thanked President Quang forsuccessfully hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) EconomicLeaders’ Meeting in the central city of Da Nang last year.
He applauded Vietnam’s very important role incompleting the negotiations of the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to whichboth Vietnam and Japan are signatories.
PresidentQuang showed his delight at the growth of the Vietnam-Japan partnership overthe past 45 years, with rapid and practical development recorded in all fieldsand similarities in strategic interests.
Heagreed that 2018 is an important year opening a new phase of development inbilateral relationship, matching the benefit of both sides.
TheVietnamese leader said Vietnam highly values the leading role of Japan and PMShinzo Abe in the negotiation and signing of the CPTPP.
Hesaid that leaders of Vietnam and Japan concurred to enhance political trustthrough maintaining regular high-level visits and meetings, strengtheningparliamentary exchange, and fostering cooperation in defence, security as wellas people-to-people contact, especially in 2018.
Thetwo sides will continue promoting connectivity in economy for mutual benefit,he stated, adding that Japan will increase investment in Vietnam, createfavourable conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products to be sold in Japanand strengthen cooperation in major projects in infrastructure, high-qualityhuman resources training, climate change response, as well as in theimplementation of Vietnam’s industrialization strategy.
Thetwo countries will coordinate closely in using Japanese ODA.
Leadersof Vietnam and Japan also agreed to focus on affiliating in agriculture, healthcare, environment, labour, urban construction and development, administrativereform, culture, and local cooperation.
Vietnamand Japan will start the negotiation for agreements on criminal mutual legalassistance and transfer of sentenced persons.
Regardingregional and international issues, the two leaders agreed on the importance of a free, open, stable, rules-based and peacefulIndo-Pacific region.
They committed to mutually supporting as the candidacy for a non-permanent seat in theUnited Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 2020-2021 for Vietnam, and 2023-2024 forJapan.
The two countries will closely coordinate when Vietnam is the coordinating country for the ASEAN-Japan relationship from August2018.
While affirming the need to ensure peace, security, navigation and aviationfreedom and safety in the East Sea, the leaders agreed to promote the peacefulsettlement of disputes without the use of force or threat to use force, and thestringent respect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Theyalso underlined the importance to respect diplomatic and legal processes, fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the East Sea (DOC), and striving to reach a framework of a Code ofConduct in the East Sea (COC) in a practical and effective manner.-VNA
VNA