Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi Pays a Courtesy Call on General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nong Duc Manh
(Overview)

April 27, 2002

On 27 April, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid a courtesy call on General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nong Duc Manh from 19:00 Japan Time, for about thirty minutes. The following is an overview of the meeting.

1. Japan-Viet Nam Bilateral Relations

General Secretary Manh stated that the Communist Party of Viet Nam heartily welcomed the visit of Prime Minister Koizumi, the President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan. He also stated that he expected this visit to lead to a new stage in bilateral relations and expressed his gratitude for Japan's contribution to Viet Nam's development to date. In addition, General Secretary Manh noted that he would like to cooperate on the creation of a mutually trusting, long-term and stable bilateral relationship with Japan, and on behalf of the Communist Party, Government and people of Viet Nam, he offered his sincere gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their support in enabling Viet Nam to overcome its difficulties and troubles, and to develop.

In response, Prime Minister Koizumi noted that Secretary-General of the LDP Taku Yamasaki, who also serves as Chairman of the Japan-Viet Nam Parliamentary Friendship League, had often urged him to pay a visit to Viet Nam and he said he was very glad to have been able to realize the visit on this occasion. Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his respect that Viet Nam had overcome various difficulties and troubles, such as the Vietnam War, and was now developing at a tremendous pace, leading it to become known as a "rising dragon." He also noted that he wanted to further promote exchange with Viet Nam in a variety of areas.

2. Japan-Viet Nam Human Exchange

(1) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he would like to extend a formal invitation to General Secretary Manh to pay an official visit to Japan in the autumn. Responding with words of gratitude, General Secretary Manh said that he would sincerely like to realize such a visit.

(2) General Secretary Manh stated that he would like to develop relations between the ruling parties in the two countries - the LDP and Viet Nam Communist Party. He noted that the Secretary-General of Japan's Parliamentary Friendship League Tsutomu Takebe had attended the 9th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam in 2001, and that in August of the same year Secretary-General Yamasaki had paid a visit to Viet Nam. Both visits, General Secretary Manh remarked, greatly contributed to the development of Japan-Viet Nam relations.

(3) General Secretary Manh noted that Viet Nam's diplomacy would continue to pursue a policy of "independence and self-reliance" and advance omnidirectional diplomacy as Japan, in particular, was of great importance to Viet Nam. He also stated that he would like to make the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2003 a commemorative year and above all promote the exchange of younger generations. General Secretary Manh also requested that his felicitations be conveyed to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

3. Doi moi Policy of Viet Nam

General Secretary Manh stated that at the 9th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam it was confirmed that the doi moi (reform) policy would continue and that in aiming to reach a high level of social development in the future, it would be necessary to implement doi moi in not only economic areas, but also in the political system. He also noted that a general election would be held on 19 May this year, which would be apart from the political process of doi moi.

4. Conclusion

Prime Minister Koizumi stated that he had definitely been told by many Diet members who had visited Viet Nam that "Viet Nam will certainly develop." He also noted that the financial world was paying close attention to the latent potential of Viet Nam and that given the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Japan in 2003, he would like to advance various forms of cooperation. Finally, Prime Minister Koizumi concluded the meeting by expressing hope that he would be able to invite and again meet General Secretary Manh in Tokyo.