Countries & Regions

On Sunday, June 30, for approximately 30 minutes from 6:25 p.m. (local time), Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs met with H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, during his visit to Brunei Darussalam. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. Minister Kishida stated that it showed the importance of Viet Nam to Japan as a strategic partner that Viet Nam was the very first country in Prime Minister Abe's first trip abroad after taking office. He expressed his hope that this year, as the two countries celebrates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam and the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Year, the "strategic partnership" between the two countries will be further developed comprehensively. Minister Kishida added that Japan will continue to support economic and social development in Viet Nam through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other means.
2. In response, Minister Minh stated that he wanted to further accelerate high-level exchanges between Japan and Viet Nam. He also noted that Japan is the biggest direct investor and ODA donor country to Viet Nam on the economic front, and that he would like to continue to expand cooperation with Japan in every field, highlighting investment, trade, and infrastructure development in particular.
3. In addition, the ministers had exchanged views on regional issues in the Asia-Pacific.