National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue welcomes and holds talks with President of the Japanese House of Councilors

On the afternoon of September 5, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue chaired the official welcoming ceremony for Japanese Senate President Otsuji Hidehisa. After the welcoming ceremony, the two sides held talks.

Strengthening the friendly relations and good cooperation between the two countries

Warmly welcoming Mr. Otsuji Hidehisa and the delegation of Japanese Senators to visit Vietnam, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that the visit of the President of the Japanese Senate has special significance, taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The National Assembly Chairman expressed his belief that the visit of the President of the Japanese Senate will further promote cooperation between the two legislative bodies in particular and make an important contribution to strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in general.

President of the Senate Otsuji Hidehisa expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. Expressing his pleasure to officially visit Vietnam on the occasion of the two countries having many activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Mr. Otsuji Hidehisa said that this was his first overseas visit since taking office as President of the Japanese Senate. The Japanese delegation included Senators from major Japanese political parties, which demonstrated the importance of cooperation with Vietnam.

Senate President Otsuji Hidehisa said that the world is facing many challenges of global scale, and cooperation between the two countries' parliaments/parliaments needs to be promoted. The two countries are partners in implementing the Indo-Pacific Economic Connectivity Initiative. Based on the good cooperation in many fields, the Senate President of Japan expressed his belief that this visit will contribute to further strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two countries.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the Vietnamese National Assembly supports the strengthening of bilateral relations through all channels: Party, Government, National Assembly, and people-to-people exchanges; and is pleased that Japanese political parties all support the strengthening of bilateral relations, considering this an important common denominator in strengthening bilateral relations in the coming time. Since the establishment of the "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia", cooperation between the two countries has been developing well with very high political trust. This is the basis for comprehensive and extensive cooperation to achieve many achievements in all fields. Looking to the future, Vietnam supports the upgrading of bilateral relations to a new level.

Vietnam highly values Japan's position, prestige and voice in the region and the international arena; supports Japan to continue promoting its role in multilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms, ASEAN-Japan cooperation, including Mekong Sub-region cooperation. The National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two sides increase delegation exchanges, especially high-ranking leaders, to practically celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations; continue to strengthen consultation, coordination, and support each other's stance at multilateral forums, important international and regional organizations of which the two countries are members such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, etc.

Vietnam supports Japan's initiative on building an Asian Community on carbon emission reduction - AZEC, ensuring energy security and sustainable development. The National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two sides strengthen the strategic connection between the two economies; in which Japan supports Vietnam in building an independent, self-reliant economy, effectively participating in global supply chains; strengthen cooperation between localities of the two countries, promote Japanese enterprises to invest, transfer advanced technology and techniques in infrastructure development, manufacturing industry, high-quality agriculture and climate change response; encourage Japanese enterprises to continue expanding investment cooperation in areas such as high technology, new energy, renewable energy, clean energy, energy conversion, innovation, digital transformation, green transformation, core technology, source technology, etc. Japan continues to provide ODA to Vietnam to implement socio-economic projects, meeting the needs and goals of sustainable development; implementing the new generation ODA program for Vietnam, with high incentives, simple and flexible procedures. The two countries share experiences in national governance, corporate governance, etc.

Japan continues to promote support for training high-quality human resources in the fields of science and technology, management and services, healthcare, culture, and education; supports training and fostering of managers at all levels, especially strategic-level officials; and continues to maintain non-refundable aid in the field of education and training for Vietnam.

With nearly 500,000 people, Vietnam has become the second largest foreign community in Japan. The National Assembly Chairman thanked Japan for continuing to have policies to support the Vietnamese community; at the same time, he said that the National Assembly and the Government of Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions for Japanese citizens and the Japanese business community to continue to invest long-term, sustainably and successfully in Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue suggested that both sides actively implement the medium- and long-term vision on agricultural cooperation. Japan is interested in promoting labor cooperation, gradually applying the conversion of the trainee regime to a labor regime with contracts; assigning ministries and sectors of the two countries to exchange and promote the signing of agreements in these two fields.

Early establishment of cooperation mechanism between the legislatures of the two countries

At the talks, Japanese senators expressed their impressions of Vietnam's current development; highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts to participate in multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as CPTPP and RCEP. In the effort to diversify the supply chain, Vietnam is Japan's top priority. Japan is ready to cooperate and share experiences in the development process, especially in cooperation in education, trainees, and healthcare. Japan is gradually shifting to a new technical intern program with many advantages that will contribute to promoting cooperation in this field. The two sides promote economic cooperation based on their own conditions to achieve the highest efficiency, including agricultural cooperation, ensuring food supply and environmental protection.

The National Assembly Chairman agreed with the opinions of the members of the delegation, and said that in the context of rapid, complex, and unpredictable changes in the world, with a good foundation of relations, the two countries will continue to write a new chapter in the next 50 years with the goal of bringing happiness to the people and prosperity to each country.

According to National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the two economies can complement each other. With great potential for cooperation, the two countries cooperate closely to maintain and strengthen existing supply chains and develop new, strategic supply chains. The National Assembly Chairman also agreed that in the field of trainee cooperation, companies sending and receiving trainees need to ensure the rights of trainees in the best way. The Vietnamese Government and National Assembly create legal conditions and conduct supervision so that companies can ensure the highest benefits for workers.

Regarding cooperation between the two legislative bodies, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that the two sides promote cooperation, exchange and share experiences between specialized committees; promote the important role and coordination in perfecting institutions and policies, building a legal corridor to support businesses of the two countries to expand cooperation and investment in each country; increase delegation exchanges, exchanges and contacts between parliamentarians, especially young parliamentarians and female parliamentarians between the two countries, further promote the important bridging role of the Friendship Parliamentarians' Union in promoting people-to-people exchanges, business cooperation and cooperation between localities; support the organization of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023; promote Government cooperation, monitor agreements and cooperation agreements signed between the two Governments; continue to closely coordinate at multilateral parliamentary forums such as IPU, AIPA, APPF, etc.

At the talks, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and the President of the Japanese House of Councilors agreed that the legislatures of the two countries should soon establish a cooperation mechanism by signing a cooperation agreement, which will be an important legal basis for the legislatures of the two countries to strengthen cooperation in many fields, commensurate with the "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" between Vietnam and Japan.

In mid-September 2023, in Hanoi, the Vietnamese National Assembly coordinated with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to organize the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians with the theme "The role of youth in promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals through digital transformation and innovation". The National Assembly Chairman respectfully invited the Japanese National Assembly to send a delegation to attend this Conference.

During the talks and discussions on international and regional issues, the National Assembly Chairman thanked and hoped that Japan would continue to support the viewpoints and stances of Vietnam and ASEAN in maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation security in the East Sea; and resolving disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS Convention.

* To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations, Senate President Otsuji Hidehisa presented the Vietnamese National Assembly with a red Osaka tree. Immediately after the talks, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Senate President Otsuji Hidehisa performed the ceremony of planting a red Osaka tree in the grounds of the Vietnamese National Assembly House.

* In the evening of the same day, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hosted a reception for Japanese Senate President Otsuji Hidehisa and the Japanese delegation on an official visit to Vietnam.

Source