Vietnam is an important partner in implementing Japan's foreign policy strategy.

On May 24, within the framework of his working visit to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang had meetings with former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Nikai Toshihiro and Chairman of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko.

At the meeting with former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang expressed his joy at the strong development of the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan; expressed his respect and appreciation for former Prime Minister Suga's good feelings for the country, people of Vietnam and the Vietnam-Japan relationship when he was Prime Minister, as well as at present, in his position as Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Union. The Deputy Prime Minister asked former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to continue to pay attention and support in promoting the Vietnam-Japan relationship to a new height, increase delegation exchanges at all levels in 2023 - the year marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries; and support the community of nearly 500,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working smoothly in Japan.

Former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said that Japan considers Vietnam an important partner in implementing Japan's foreign policy strategy in the region. The former Prime Minister affirmed his support for bringing the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries to a new level, especially in areas such as exchanges and delegations at all levels, including parliamentary exchanges, economic and investment cooperation, digital transformation; and promoting policies to support Vietnamese people in Japan to live, study and work conveniently. The former Prime Minister also asked the Vietnamese side to pay attention to and support the Japanese community living and working in Vietnam.

At the meeting with Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Union Nikai Toshihiro, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang highly appreciated the sentiments and positive and meaningful contributions of Chairman Nikai Toshihiro and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Union through initiatives to promote economic, cultural, tourism and local exchange delegations between the two countries, including the nearly 100-person exchange delegation led by Chairman Nikai Toshihiro in May 2023. The Deputy Prime Minister asked Mr. Nikai to continue supporting high-level and all-level exchange activities between the two countries; urging the Japanese Government to support Vietnam in soon implementing the new generation of Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, tourism cooperation, local cooperation, cultural-sport exchange, and people-to-people exchange.

Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Nikai Toshihiro thanked Vietnam for its warm welcome during his visit last May; expressed his wish to work with Vietnam to promote the connection between parliamentarians between the two countries, especially young and female parliamentarians; and promote cooperation in many fields, including tourism, education, sports, etc., saying that this is the foundation for building a solid friendship between the two countries. Chairman Nikai also affirmed that he would promote procedures to open the Japanese market for Vietnamese green-skinned grapefruit and suggested that Vietnam consider procedures to open the market for Japanese grapes.

At the meeting with JICA President Tanaka Akihiko, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang highly appreciated the important contributions of Japanese ODA capital to Vietnam's socio-economic development and poverty reduction over the past 30 years and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always appreciates and uses this capital effectively. The Deputy Prime Minister asked JICA to continue to pay attention to and study providing new generation ODA for Vietnam in the fields mentioned at the recent high-level talks between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Hiroshima, including the North-South high-speed railway project, the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City urban railway, projects related to renewable energy, green transformation, and increasing the value of agricultural products, etc.

JICA President Tanaka Akihiko affirmed his readiness to closely coordinate with Vietnam to further promote ODA cooperation between the two countries in all fields; said Japan is ready to participate in key projects of Vietnam and suggested that the two sides establish a periodic consultation framework at all levels to promptly inform and resolve arising issues, ensuring the effectiveness of ODA cooperation.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, met with officials and staff of the Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan; listened to Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu report on the situation of the Vietnamese community here as well as many opinions expressing the thoughts and aspirations of the people.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hoped that the people would continue to unite, bond, share with each other, preserve and promote the image of Vietnamese people in the eyes of local people, and contribute knowledge and experience to the process of building and developing the country. The Deputy Prime Minister also asked the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan to continue to do well in community work, and be a warm and trustworthy home for the Vietnamese community in Japan./.

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