Asia

Visit to a Japanese language training facility and interaction with Vietnamese candidates for nurses and certified careworkers; meeting with Japanese residents in Viet Nam

 

Japan-Viet Nam Foreign Ministers' Meeting; the 6th Meeting of Japan-Viet Nam Cooperation Committee; Signing Ceremony of Exchange of Notes ((1) Non-Project Grant Aid for providing used vessels and equipment related to maritime safety, and (2) Grant Aid "The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship"); joint press remarks; luncheon hosted by H.E. Mr. Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam; courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of Viet Nam; meeting with H.E. Mr. To Huy Rua, President of the Viet Nam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association (and head of Central Committee's Organization Commission of the Communist Party of Viet Nam); visit to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long; and courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Truong Tan Sang, President of Viet Nam

 

Visit to Hoa-Lac High-Tech Park (including construction site for Japan-Vietnam University)

1. Amid dramatic enhancement of the bilateral relations between Japan and Viet Nam throughout2013 (the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam) and 2014, worked by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Viet Nam (his first overseas visit) in January 2013, visit to Japan by Prime Minister Dung in December 2013 and visit to Japan by President Sang (state visit) in March 2013, Foreign Minister Kishida's visit served as an opportunity to further crystallize bilateral relationship which had been elevated to an "Extensive Strategic Partnership" in March.

 

2. Particularly, as maritime safety has become an important issue in this region, the Japanese side expressed that it would provide used vessels (six or so) and related equipment through a total of JPY 500 million non-project grant aid for the enhancement of maritime law-enforcement capabilities of Viet Nam, and the Vietnamese side expressed their profound gratitude to this. Both sides shared the view on deepening cooperation in human resource development and coordination at the ASEAN-related meetings.

 

3. In light of the fact that Japan is the largest foreign direct investor and ODA donor to Viet Nam, both sides discussed various issues for deepening economic relations between the two countries mainly at the Japan-Viet Nam Cooperation Committee. Both sides shared the view that they would strengthen cooperation particularly in the fields of agriculture, development of supporting industry, energy, and development of human resources in the future.

 

4. Toward an expansion of people-to-people exchange, which would be the basis of robust bilateral relations, both sides confirmed to continue cooperation regarding the acceptance of Vietnamese candidates for nurses and certified careworkers into Japan and the relaxation of visa requirements.

A. General Points

B. Bilateral relations

C. Cooperation in  regional/international arena

A. Japan and Viet Nam had been holding the Cooperation Committee since 2007,and sixth such meeting was co-chaired by the two foreign ministers and attended by concerned authorities, to discuss specific items of cooperation such as the improvement of investment environment, development of supporting industry, infrastructure development, natural resources and energy, the environment, science and technology, agricultural cooperation, food safety, human resource development, and cultural and human exchanges. Minister Kishida pointed out the importance of continuously utilizing of the "Japan-Viet Nam Joint Initiative," a forum of discussion for the improvement of investment environment, given that more than 1,300 Japanese companies operate and more than 10,000 Japanese people reside in Viet Nam. 

 

B. Concerning the recent corruption case of Official Development Assistance (ODA), Minister Kishida, referring to the resumption of new ODA projects except those related to the Vietnam Railways, requested to the Vietnamese side to continue to deal sincerely with further uncovering the facts of the case and developing measures to prevent such incidents, so that public trust in ODA projects can be fully restored. The Vietnamese side expressed gratitude for Japan's response and stated its commitment to sincerely conducting further investigation and preventing its recurrence so that Japan's ODA funds will be appropriately and effectively used.

 

C. Regarding human resource development, Minister Kishida expressed his intention to support 30 junior Vietnamese administrative officials to study in Japan through providing approximately JPY 350 million of grant aid for development of human resources. Minister Kishida also expressed the intention of the Japanese Government to cooperate towards the establishment of the Japan-Viet Nam University.

 

D. Concerning economic partnership, Minister Kishida confirmed that the Japanese Government would closely coordinate with Viet Nam for an early conclusion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and completion of negotiations for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). With regard to the acceptance of candidates for nurses and certified careworkers that had commenced under the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), both sides confirmed to work with each other to continuously dispatch candidates with excellent records.

 

E. Both sides also exchanged opinions on cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange including Japanese language education and relaxation of visa requirements, as well as sports exchange.