Vietnam-Japan relations are at their best.

At the invitation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and His Royal Highness the Crown Princess will pay an official visit to Vietnam from September 20 to 25. On the morning of September 21, at the Presidential Palace, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan presided over the welcoming ceremony for Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and His Royal Highness the Crown Princess.

The visit to Vietnam by Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko takes place in the context of Vietnam - Japan relations being at their best. In particular, the visit takes place on the occasion of the two countries celebrating the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations (1973 - 2023).

Over the years, the “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia” between Vietnam and Japan has achieved many strong and comprehensive developments, with a high level of political trust. Exchanges and contacts at high levels and across channels have been vibrant. Senior leaders of the two countries have maintained regular visits and contacts at international and regional forums. The two countries are closely coordinating to implement the agreement reached at the online meeting earlier this year between General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on creating a breakthrough, bringing the relationship between the two countries to new heights.

Japan is one of Vietnam's leading and long-term important partners. Over the past 35 years of renovation and 50 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, Japan has always actively participated in supporting and accompanying Vietnam in the process of international integration and socio-economic development. In particular, in recent years, the "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" between the two countries has achieved many strong and comprehensive developments.

Currently, Japan is the largest official development assistance (ODA) donor, the second largest labor cooperation partner, the third largest investor and tourism partner, and the fourth largest trade partner of Vietnam. Political, diplomatic, security, defense, economic, educational and training relations are increasingly strengthened, deepened and substantive. Cultural activities, people-to-people exchanges, and local cooperation are increasingly close, which is an important and solid foundation to promote the increasingly close and trustworthy relationship between the two countries.

Japan's ODA capital contributes significantly to the development of key infrastructure projects, creating positive spillover momentum, promoting sustainable socio-economic development; supporting the transfer of advanced technology and training high-quality human resources for Vietnam.

In terms of investment, Japan has more than 5,000 valid projects with a total investment capital of more than 70 billion USD, ranking third among 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. In the opposite direction, Vietnam has 106 investment projects in Japan with a total registered investment capital of about 19.5 million USD. In terms of trade, the total import-export turnover between the two countries in 2022 will continue to develop in a balanced direction, reaching nearly 50 billion USD, making Japan Vietnam's fourth largest trading partner.

Human resource development is becoming one of the important pillars in cooperation between the two countries. The total number of Vietnamese people in Japan currently reaches nearly 500 thousand people, ranking second among foreign communities in Japan, living, working and studying in all provinces and cities of Japan, being an important source of supplement for Japan's human resource shortage in many industries.

Exchanges between localities, socio-political organizations and people of the two countries have also become increasingly close. Currently, more than 40 pairs of localities of Vietnam and Japan have signed cooperation documents with each other. In particular, many Japanese localities have established parliamentary alliance groups and friendship organizations of each locality with Vietnam. The friendship organizations operate effectively, contributing to promoting exchanges with localities in many fields.

Recognizing the close and friendly relationship between the two countries, Chairman of the Japanese Komeito Party Yamaguchi Natsuo, during his visit to Vietnam in August 2003, shared: Both countries have a history of painful wars, so they both want to build a lasting peace. Japan has helped Vietnam overcome post-war difficulties, thereby deepening the relationship between the two countries and developing together with Vietnam. The two countries have many things in common as they both have 100 million people, and their areas and shapes are similar. People-to-people exchanges will continue to develop further, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world - Mr. Yamaguchi Natsuo affirmed.

During his visit to Vietnam last year, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio also affirmed that cultural similarities are an important foundation contributing to strengthening the close friendship between the two countries and peoples. Japan will make every effort to open up new opportunities for bilateral relations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations. That relationship, as the Japanese Prime Minister emphasized, is the "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" entering a new stage of development in the spirit of "Affection, sincerity, trust, substance, and effectiveness".

Commenting on the potential for cooperation between the two countries as well as bilateral relations and coordination in the international arena, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said that over the past 50 years, the two countries have become extremely important partners, sharing many common strategic interests. The two countries regularly exchange high-level delegations and organize meetings on the sidelines of international and regional conferences, thereby strengthening the trust between the leaders of the two countries and setting out major orientations for effective development in bilateral relations in all fields. And the two countries still have a lot of room to further promote relations in all aspects. Japan is one of Vietnam's leading and long-term important partners, sharing many common strategic interests in the region and internationally.

The potential and room for cooperation of the bilateral relationship has entered its fifth decade, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently stated: In the spirit of "harmonized benefits, shared risks", harmonizing interests between the Government, businesses and people, the Vietnamese Government will always accompany and create all favorable conditions for Japanese investors to make successful, sustainable and long-term investments in Vietnam.

As two East Asian countries, two maritime nations, the two economies of Vietnam and Japan are highly complementary, with much room and potential for cooperation in many fields, especially in technological innovation, digital transformation, supply chain diversification and green development - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed.

The visit of Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan is a strong affirmation of the tradition of cooperation, sincerity and mutual trust. The visit will contribute to further consolidating and developing the bilateral relationship in a deeper, more sustainable, effective and more substantive manner, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world./.

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