The Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee gave a press interview about the significance and importance of the visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his wife to Singapore and Japan.
At the invitation of the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, Seah Kian Peng, and his wife, and the President of the Senate of Japan, Sekiguchi Masakazu, and his wife, the Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Tran Thanh Man, and his wife will pay official visits to the Republic of Singapore and Japan from December 1-7, 2024.
On this occasion, Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee, Le Thu Ha, gave an interview to the press about the significance and importance of the visit.
- Could you share your thoughts on the importance of the official visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his wife to the Republic of Singapore and Japan from December 1-7, 2024?
Deputy Head Le Thu Ha: Singapore is a leading and important partner of Vietnam in the region. After more than 50 years of diplomatic relations (1973-2024) and 10 years of strategic partnership (2013-2024), Vietnam-Singapore relations have continuously developed, reaching many important milestones in all fields and through Party, Parliament, Government, and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides have agreed on the principle of upgrading the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership at an appropriate time.
It can be said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is a prime example of Vietnam's successful bilateral cooperation with its partners. Japan maintains its position as Vietnam's leading economic partner, the largest provider of ODA, the second largest partner in labor cooperation, the third largest in investment and tourism, and the fourth largest in trade. The relationship between the two countries has seen qualitative development in recent years and is currently at its best stage with a high level of political trust. Exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, take place frequently and closely through all channels: Party, State, and Parliament.
Economic cooperation is becoming increasingly close and in-depth. Local cooperation, cultural exchange, people-to-people exchanges, and human resource cooperation are becoming more intimate and effective. The two countries recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World (in 2023).
In this context, the visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man to Singapore and Japan is of particular importance in realizing Vietnam's foreign policy, promoting substantive and sustainable cooperation through parliamentary channels between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Parliaments of Singapore and Japan, thereby contributing to promoting the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, concretizing the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan, and consolidating effective and substantive friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore and Japan in all fields.
- What are the expected main activities of the Speaker of the National Assembly during her official visits to Singapore and Japan this time, Madam?
Deputy Head Le Thu Ha: During his visit to Singapore, the Speaker of the National Assembly will hold talks and meetings with all of Singapore's top leaders: Speaker of the National Assembly Seah Kian Peng, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam; meet with leading Singaporean corporations investing and doing business in Vietnam; meet with the Vietnamese community; and visit and speak with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore.
In Japan, the Chairman of the National Assembly will hold talks with the President of the Upper House, Sekiguchi Masakazu, and the President of the Lower House, Nugaka Fukuhiro; meet with Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru; pay respects to the Emperor and Empress; on behalf of the Party and State leaders, present medals from the President of Vietnam to several former Japanese leaders; receive leaders of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, leaders of major Japanese political parties, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, the Federation for the Promotion of People-to-People Diplomacy (FEC), several former leaders and politicians with prestige who have contributed to bilateral relations, leaders of several large Japanese corporations and businesses, and governors of several localities with close ties to Vietnam; and meet with officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Tokyo, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan.
Particularly during this visit, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Senate President Sekiguchi Masakazu will sign a Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Japanese Senate. This is a very important prerequisite for promoting relations between the two legislative bodies to a new level in the coming years.
It can be said that the visit of the Speaker of the National Assembly is given special importance and high regard by the leaders of both countries, who have directed relevant agencies on both sides to coordinate very actively and prepare thoroughly regarding the program and content. Therefore, I am confident that the visit of Speaker Tran Thanh Man will be a great success, creating new momentum for the strong development of relations between the two countries.
- Through this visit by National Assembly Chairwoman Tran Thanh Man and the high-level delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly, how will parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore and Japan, as well as cooperation between our localities and their counterparts, be promoted, Madam?
Deputy Head Le Thu Ha: Parliamentary cooperation is an important channel within the overall partnership and good cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore and Japan. In recent years, cooperation between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Singaporean Parliament, and the Japanese Senate, has developed very well within both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.
I believe that, with the proposed agenda and objectives, the visit of the Speaker of the National Assembly will contribute to promoting and deepening cooperation between the three legislative bodies, through strengthening delegation exchanges, implementing cooperation activities between the Committees and agencies of the National Assembly, and Vietnamese National Assembly deputies with Singaporean and Japanese parliamentarians, young parliamentarians, and female parliamentarians; promoting the important bridging role of the Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and Parliamentary Friendship Groups in promoting people-to-people exchanges, business cooperation, and cooperation between localities; promoting the important role of the three legislative bodies in promoting the effective implementation of signed Treaties, Agreements, and Conventions; coordinating the improvement of institutions, policies, and legal systems, creating favorable conditions for socio-economic development, and supporting businesses from the three countries to expand cooperation and investment in each country. Strengthen close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, regional and global inter-parliamentary forums (IPU, AIPA, ARF, APPF, ASEP...).
In particular, the cooperation agreement signed between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Japanese Senate during the visit will contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries, creating favorable conditions for both sides to implement bilateral cooperation activities as well as at multilateral forums, contributing to promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, in line with the interests of the people of both countries.
Local cooperation is one of the highlights in bilateral relations between Vietnam and Singapore, and Vietnam and Japan. With Singapore, local cooperation between the two countries has been strongly promoted. Singaporean investors have participated in almost all sectors of Vietnam's economy (18 out of 21 sectors) in 51 out of 63 provinces and cities, led by Ho Chi Minh City (19.3%), followed by Hanoi (10.8%), Bac Ninh (7.6%), and then Binh Duong (the capital of VSIP), Long An, and Quang Nam. The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) network is a symbol of successful economic cooperation between the two countries.
With Japan, Vietnamese and Japanese localities have signed more than 110 cooperation documents, establishing approximately 100 pairs of relationships. Notable examples include Ho Chi Minh City-Osaka, Nagano; Hanoi-Fukuoka, Tokyo; Da Nang-Sakai, Yokohama; Phu Tho-Nara; Hue-Kyoto; Quang Nam-Nagasaki; Hung Yen-Kanagawa; and Hai Phong-Niigata. The vibrant and in-depth exchanges between localities of the two countries are a key factor contributing to strengthening cooperation in investment, trade, labor, and people-to-people exchanges.
The delegation accompanying the National Assembly Chairman on this official visit to the two countries includes leaders from several localities representing the North, Central, and South regions of Vietnam. With substantive working sessions and exchanges, and the active participation of leaders from localities in Vietnam, Singapore, and Japan, I believe that the visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man will not only contribute to promoting bilateral diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Singapore and Japan, but also strengthen connections and promote substantive cooperation between Vietnamese localities and those of Singapore and Japan, bringing concrete benefits to the people and business communities of the three countries.
- Thank you for the insights shared by Ms. Le Thu Ha, Vice Chair of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee.
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