Japan-Viet Nam Relations

July 1, 2019
(Photo1) Photograph of the leaders shaking hands 1 Photograph of the leaders shaking hands (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo2) Photograph of the leaders shaking hands 2 Photograph of the leaders shaking hands (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo3) Photograph of the commemorative photograph session Photograph of the commemorative photograph session (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

On July 1, commencing at 11:55 a.m. for approximately 75 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Summit Meeting with H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, during his visit to Japan to attend the G20 Osaka Summit. The overview of the meeting is as follows. The meeting was attended by Mr. Taro Aso, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. Kotaro Nogami, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Toshiko Abe, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kentaro Sonoura, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, and others. Prior to the meeting, the two leaders attended a document exchange ceremony.

  • (Photo4) Photograph of the Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting 1
    Photograph of the Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo5) Photograph of the Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting 2
    Photograph of the Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe congratulated Viet Nam’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. He referred to Viet Nam’s chairmanship of ASEAN next year and said he intends to work with Viet Nam to address various issues. He also stated that over 330,000 Vietnamese nationals reside in Japan and that they are significant assets to both countries, and expressed his hope to expand exchanges between the people of Japan and Viet Nam. In response, Prime Minister Phuc congratulated Prime Minister Abe on the successful G20 Osaka SummitOpen a New Window.

2. With regard to bilateral relations, Prime Minister Abe welcomed the exchange of a memorandum of cooperation on the specified skilled worker system. He said he would like to work with Viet Nam for the early implementation of exams and tests, and acceptance of specified skilled workers, and further deepen bilateral cooperation for properly sending and accepting specified skilled workers to ensure that Vietnamese students and trainees can focus on their studies and training. He also welcomed the signing of the Treaty on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. He appreciated the strengthened cooperation between their defense and maritime law enforcement agencies, including frequent port calls by vessels, and expressed his hope to agree on commencing negotiations for an agreement concerning the transfer of defense equipment and technology. He welcomed the signing of an exchange of notes on the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship, a memorandum on KOSEN education, and a memorandum on the Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. He also welcomed the approval of exports of un-bagged apples from Japan to Viet Nam.
In response, Prime Minister Phuc expressed support for Prime Minister Abe’s proposal, noted his intention to cooperate on ensuring the effective operation of the memorandum on the specified skilled worker system. He appreciated supports through Japan’s official development assistance (ODA), and requested continued assistance for human resources development in Viet Nam. He also expressed his wish to deepen cooperation in the defense and security areas and expectations for further investment by Japanese companies, and his intention to improve the investment environment in Viet Nam.

3. The two leaders exchanged views regarding international rules on data flow and electronic commerce, one of the themes of the G20 Osaka Summit. Prime Minister Abe stated that the leaders’ agreement on the “data free flow with trust” concept was a significant outcome of the Osaka Summit. The two leaders shared the view that Japan and Viet Nam would coordinate to tackle international issues based on the agreement made at the G20 Osaka Summit.

4. The two leaders exchanged their views regarding North Kore, the South China Sea, a free and open Indo-Pacific, ASEAN, and the Mekong-Japan cooperation. They agreed that the two countries would cooperate on strengthening bilateral relations and on regional and international issues.

  • (Photo6) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 1
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo7) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 2
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo8) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 3
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo9) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 4
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo10) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 5
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo11) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 6
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo12) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 7
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo13) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 8
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo14) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 9
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo15) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 10
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo16) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 11
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
  • (Photo17) Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony 12
    Photograph of the exchange of documents ceremony
    (Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)

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