Visit of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
(Overview and Evaluation)

28 April 2002

From 27 to 28 April Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid an official visit to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. The following is an overview and tentative evaluation of the visit.

1. Itinerary

2. Overview

Through the Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting and the courtesy calls paid on General Secretary Manh and President Luong, the following points were agreed upon between Japan and Viet Nam.

(1) Bilateral Relations

a. 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam

Both sides agreed that various projects would be implemented in order to further develop Japan and Viet Nam relations as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2003, which is also the "Year of Japan-ASEAN Exchange."

b. Cooperation in economic areas

1. Prime Minister Koizumi highly evaluated the doi moi (reform) policy of Viet Nam and announced that Japan would continue to provide assistance.
2. The Viet Nam side expressed the expectation that investment and trade between the two countries would be further expanded. In order to achieve this, both sides agreed that they would cooperate in further developing an investo r-friendly environment and that efforts would be made to conclude a bilateral agreement on investments between Japan and Viet Nam before the end of the year.
3. The Viet Nam side expressed its deep gratitude for the assistance provided by Japan, which has made a large contribution to the development of Viet Nam to date, and requested that such cooperation be further enhanced. In response, Prime Minister Koizumi requested effective and efficient utilization of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan, to which the Viet Nam side agreed.

c. Cooperation in political areas

Both sides agreed to further strengthen political dialogue.

d. VIP visits

In response to the extension of an invitation by Prime Minister Koizumi for General Secretary Manh to pay a visit to Japan in the autumn, the Viet Nam side responded that they hoped to make this visit a most significant one.

e. Invitation to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress to Viet Nam

The Viet Nam side extended once again a formal invitation for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to pay a visit to Viet Nam. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his gratitude for the invitation and responded that he would convey the invitation to the Imperial Court.

f. Expansion of human exchanges

Both sides agreed to take advantage of the inauguration of direct flights from this June between Narita airport and Hanoi in order to expand human exchanges including tourism between Japan and Viet Nam.

(2) Japan-ASEAN Relations

1. Both sides agreed that Japan and Viet Nam, a "rising dragon" in the region, should advance mutual cooperation within the framework of Japan-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) relations. The Viet Nam side highly valued the political role played by Japan in the region and expressed their expectation that this role would be further strengthened in the future.
2. Viet Nam announced its full support to Prime Minister Koizumi's five initiatives (Initiative for Japan-ASEAN Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Year of Japan-ASEAN Exchange, Initiative for Development in East Asia, cooperation in education and human resources development, and strengthened Japan and ASEAN security cooperation) proposed in January this year.

3. Tentative Evaluation

(1) With the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam around the corner, the importance of bilateral relations with Viet Nam, which holds geo-political, political and economic importance, was confirmed at the highest-leader level. The foundation for the further strengthening of the Japan-Viet Nam relationship in the 21st century was significantly established.

(2) Full agreement was also reached on advancing the Japan - Viet Nam cooperation within the framework of Japan-ASEAN relations. Prime Minister Koizumi's visit to Viet Nam was an epoch-making one as it moved the bilateral relationship to a new stage.