Continuing his official visit to Japan, on the afternoon of November 29, in Tokyo, President Vo Van Thuong delivered a speech at the Japanese National Assembly - the oldest legislative body in Asia, which has made many important legislative decisions for Japan's development over the past 135 years. The Government Portal respectfully introduces the full text of President Vo Van Thuong's speech at the Japanese National Assembly:
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| President Vo Van Thuong speaks at the Japanese Parliament |
Konnichiwa
Dear Speaker of the House of Representatives Nukaga Fukushiro,
Dear President of the Senate Otsuji Hidehisa,
Dear Members of the Japanese National Assembly,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you for giving me the honor to speak at the Japanese Diet - the oldest legislative body in Asia, which has made many important legislative decisions for Japan's development over the past 135 years. This is a special sentiment that you have shown to the Vietnamese people, the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation that I represent at a very meaningful time - the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (1973-2023) between our two countries.
On behalf of the State and people of Vietnam and with my personal feelings, I would like to send to the members of the National Assembly and the people of Japan my warmest and most respectful greetings. I sincerely thank you for the warm and respectful reception given to me and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam.
Dear Sir or Madam,
Since I was young, I had the opportunity to visit your country in the exchange program, meeting Vietnamese - Japanese youth. Those visits, meeting Japanese youth, living with Japanese families have left me with good memories and impressions of the hospitable and friendly Japanese people; Japan is as beautiful as cherry blossoms, the Japanese soul is as peaceful and profound as Haiku poems, the Japanese spirit is as resilient and noble as the Samurai warriors, the Japanese will is as steadfast and strong as Mount Fuji.
Until today, during this visit to Japan, although in a new position, I still keep the good memories of nearly 30 years ago when visiting Japan. At the same time, I have a deeper feeling about the land of the rising sun developing richly, with an increasingly high position in the international arena; Japan is always a reliable partner, a close friend, always supporting and helping Vietnam on the path of building and developing the country, together contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
In today's meaningful meeting, I would like to share with you some basic contents about the relationship between our two countries; the vision for the future and the position of that relationship for the two peoples, as well as for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Dear Sir or Madam,
1- The relationship between the two peoples of Vietnam and Japan.
Our two countries and peoples have a long-standing historical relationship dating back more than 1,000 years. It started with people-to-people exchanges, then political, diplomatic and economic cooperation. According to historical research, in the 8th century, Vietnamese monk Phat Triet came to Nara province to attend the ceremony to open the eyes of the great Buddha statue, opening the history of exchanges in Buddhism and Royal Court Music between the two countries. In the 16th century, Japanese Red Seal Ships came to Vietnam to trade and do business, establishing streets and bridges with strong Japanese architecture, which are still preserved in Hoi An today. That was the relationship between Princess Ngoc Hoa and Merchant Araki Sotaro; it was the beautiful friendship between patriotic scholar Phan Boi Chau and doctor Asaba Sakitaro...
Vietnam and Japan have the same wet rice civilization, and both have had to overcome the harsh challenges of nature and the destruction of war. From there, they have forged people with the virtues of resilience, indomitability, diligence, dynamism, creativity, valuing the values of community and family harmony, loyalty, affection before and after, respecting ancestors, being filial to parents, always aiming for the values of truth - goodness - beauty to perfect personality.
Vietnamese patriot Phan Boi Chau stated that Vietnam and Japan are two countries with "the same culture, the same race, the same continent". Although not geographically close, the two countries have many similarities and connections in culture, history, and people. The similarities in culture, history, people, and the tradition of close exchanges between the people of the two countries over thousands of years have been the glue that binds the friendship and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries. If I were to use a very general, concise, and emotional sentence about the relationship between our two countries, I would say: "Heaven-ordained fate".
Dear Sir or Madam,
2. Vietnam: Past, Present and Future
Our country has gone through long years of war to protect the Fatherland, to preserve the integrity of the country, to win the right to live, the right to freedom and the right to pursue happiness. The strength that helps the Vietnamese people overcome all difficulties to build and defend the country is the spirit of great justice and humanity of a nation that always loves peace, harmony, friendship and respect for other nations.
In a world of many changes, from the tradition and philosophy of our nation, from international experience, Vietnam has determined and consistently implemented the foreign policy: Independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of foreign relations; proactively and actively integrating comprehensively and extensively into the international community; being a friend, a reliable partner and an active, responsible member of the international community. In that process, we have determined that relations with neighboring countries are the top priority, relations with major countries and comprehensive strategic partners are of strategic significance, relations with strategic partners, comprehensive partners, and a number of other partners are of great importance and attach importance to relations with traditional partners. Along with that, we implement the "four no's" defense policy: Not participating in military alliances; not allying with one country to fight against another; not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use territory against other countries; not using force or threatening to use force in international relations.
If in the past, Vietnam was known as a country of war and underdevelopment, today, after nearly 40 years of Doi Moi, Vietnam has become a country of peace, friendship, cooperation and development. We rank 35th in the world in terms of GDP, 5th in Asia and 20th in the world in terms of FDI attraction and trade exchange. Vietnam has participated in 16 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). The poverty rate according to the United Nations standards has decreased from over 50% (in 1986) to 4.3% (in 2022). Political stability, national defense and security have been consolidated and enhanced. Institutional reform, infrastructure development and human resource development have been promoted. Judicial reform, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement, and anti-corruption have achieved many important results. Vietnam currently has diplomatic relations with 193 countries, including strategic partnerships or comprehensive partnerships with 30 countries; and is a member of 70 regional and global organizations.
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| President Vo Van Thuong: The achievements of the land of the rising sun are a great source of encouragement, useful experience, and great motivation for Vietnam. |
We are striving to achieve the goal that by 2030, Vietnam will be a developed country with modern industry and high average income; by 2045, it will become a developed country with high income. To make that goal a reality, we value the role of the people with all human rights and civil rights as the center of policies and future planning. At the same time, we must try harder to overcome the difficulties and limitations that are hindering the country's development process.
Vietnam admires the economic and social reform and development policies that have helped Japan become an economic powerhouse with an important role and position in the region and the world. The achievements of the land of the rising sun are a great source of encouragement, useful experience, and great motivation for Vietnam.
Dear Sir or Madam,
3. Looking back at 50 years of Vietnam - Japan relations.
Over the past 50 years, Vietnam and Japan have made steady progress in building a strong relationship between the two peoples. Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973 and successively established the framework of the relationship from "Trusted and stable long-term partnership" (2002) to the "Vietnam - Japan strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" (2009), upgraded to "Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" (2014), to this day, political, economic, cultural and people-to-people cooperation between the two countries has been continuously expanded, contributing to raising the framework and content of the relationship, strongly promoting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Japan is Vietnam's leading economic partner, the second largest partner in labor cooperation, the third in investment and tourism, and the fourth in trade. Defense and security cooperation is increasingly developing substantially and in depth. Currently, there are about 520,000 Vietnamese people living, working and studying in Japan; about 22,000 Japanese people living and working in Vietnam; nearly 100 local pairs have established friendly and cooperative relations. This is an important bridge to strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Japan.
We have been effectively using Japan's ODA capital for Vietnam's socio-economic development. We cannot forget that, during Vietnam's most difficult time, Japan was one of the first developed countries to normalize relations and decided to resume ODA for Vietnam. And up to now, Japan's ODA still plays a very important role in Vietnam's development.
In addition, the deep relationship between the leaders of the two countries, which has been carefully built and nurtured over many generations, has been a valuable asset in the Vietnam - Japan relationship. Right in the Japanese National Assembly, one-third of the parliamentarians are members of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Union. They are an important bridge in the relationship between the two countries. I have been fortunate to meet and make friends with many of them in different positions. In particular, the visit of 1,000 delegates led by Mr. Nikai Tosihiro, Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Union to Vietnam in 2020, is a rare event in the diplomatic history of the two countries.
It can be affirmed that the achievements in the Vietnam-Japan relationship over the past 50 years are a solid foundation for the two peoples to confidently move together towards the future.
Dear Sir or Madam,
4. The future of Vietnam-Japan relations.
Vietnam and Japan have many advantages and strategic interests to complement each other. We have deep similarities in culture and people. We have created substantial and effective achievements in economic development, trade and investment. We have strong political determination and the common desire of the people of the two countries for peace, stability, a prosperous and happy life.
Two days ago, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and I issued a Joint Statement upgrading the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World. This is an important event, opening a new chapter in the Vietnam-Japan relationship to develop substantially, comprehensively, effectively, closely linked, meeting the interests of both sides, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The new framework allows us to elevate and expand the space for cooperation, not only in bilateral relations but also on regional and global issues; not only in traditional areas but also in new areas of cooperation such as climate change response, clean energy, digital transformation, green FDI, green finance, new-generation ODA, in line with the spirit of Vietnam - Japan accompanying each other, looking towards the future, reaching out to the world.
Building on the proud achievements, looking towards the future with many opportunities and challenges intertwined, we need to implement a new relationship framework with new thinking, new orientation, new ways of doing things. In my opinion, there are 6 following enhancements:
Firstly, further strengthen political trust, exchange delegations at high and all levels, creating a solid foundation for bilateral relations in all fields, including through Party, Government, National Assembly channels, and exchanges between parliamentarians and National Assembly deputies of the two countries.
Second, strengthen the connection between the two economies of Vietnam and Japan, identifying economic cooperation as a key pillar. We expect Japan to support Vietnam in successfully implementing industrialization and modernization. We commit that Vietnam will be an attractive destination for Japanese enterprises, contributing to diversifying the supply chain, production chain, and providing important human resources for Japan's development.
Third, strengthen defense and security cooperation based on the Joint Vision Statement on Vietnam-Japan Defense Cooperation towards the Next Decade. In particular, focus on cooperation in the fields of maritime security, information sharing, and United Nations peacekeeping; expand cooperation to respond to non-traditional security challenges.
Fourth, further strengthen local cooperation, education and training, culture, tourism, labor and people-to-people exchange. Create conditions for citizens of the two countries to integrate more deeply into each other's social life. These are extremely important factors to promote understanding and trust between the people of the two countries.
Fifth, strengthen cooperation in new areas. We expect Japan to become an investor and strategic partner of Vietnam in the fields of clean, renewable energy and climate change adaptation. We hope that Japan will support Vietnam in specific cooperation projects under the Asian Energy Transition Initiative (AETI) and the Asian Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Initiative.
Sixth, strengthen cooperation and coordination in multilateral and regional forums. The future of Vietnam and Japan is closely linked to regional and global peace, stability and development. In the context of many conflicts and local wars in the region and the world, we see more and more the sacred value of peace. Our two countries have the responsibility, together with the international community, to promote dialogue, prevent conflicts, prevent war, and resolve disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.
In that spirit, Vietnam supports Japan to play a more important and active role in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the world in general, and in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean in particular. We believe that the two countries will together contribute to building a sustainable and inclusive regional structure with ASEAN playing a central role, effectively promoting ASEAN-led mechanisms, strengthening multilateralism, upholding the United Nations Charter and international law. At the same time, effectively utilizing the development achievements of science and technology and innovation for sustainable, green and inclusive development.
Together we are determined to build a bilateral relationship that is truly: "Sincere friends, reliable partners, strategic cooperation, sustainable future".
Dear Sir or Madam,
5. Our two countries have gone through many historical upheavals, but have steadfastly overcome ups and downs together, shared in difficult times, become increasingly friendly and close, and are striving for a better future for our two peoples.
President Ho Chi Minh said: "Whatever is beneficial to the people must be done with all our might." Emperor Meiji said: "Only thinking that is beneficial to the people will last forever in our society." Therefore, upgrading the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is to respond to the aspirations and serve the practical, concrete interests of the more than 200 million people of our two countries.
On this occasion, I would like to sincerely thank the Japanese National Assembly and people for their continued interest and support for Vietnam over the years. I hope that the Japanese National Assembly, on the basis of a strong country and a resilient people, will continue to contribute to the increasingly prosperous and sustainable development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship.
Vietnam deeply believes that, with the enthusiastic support of the King and Queen, with the important decisions of the National Assembly, the administration of the Government and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, the Japanese people will continue to achieve even greater successes, worthy of being a powerful country in Asia and the world.
Wishing the people and country of Japan prosperity and happiness.
Wishing for the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam - Japan and the two countries' National Assemblies to develop strongly, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability and prosperity of the region and the world.
Wish you always healthy, happy and successful.
Thank you very much.
Arigatou gozaimashita./.
According to baochinhphu.vn
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