Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung speaks at the symposium themed “ASEAN-Japan Cooperation for Prosperity” in Hanoi on June 4 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Relations between the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan are of great significance, and theyhave become close and important partners of each other, according to VietnameseDeputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.
He made the remark during an interview with themedia on the sidelines of a symposium themed “ASEAN-Japan Cooperation forProsperity” in Hanoi on June 4. The event was part of the ASEAN-Japan Day inVietnam, an initiative of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The official said it is not difficult to seeillustrations of the cohesion between ASEAN and Japan over the last 45 years,as well as imprints of the Northeast Asian country on each ASEAN nation.
Amidst strong changes in the world and theregion, the two sides are coordinating with each other to elevate their ties,grasp opportunities, and overcome challenges facing them.
Dung noted as the country coordinator of ASEAN-Japanrelations for 2018-2021, Vietnam has worked to contribute to these connections,for example through workshops for scholars, policymakers, and businesses todiscuss issues that both ASEAN and Japan pay attention to such as peace,stability, economic and digital connectivity, prosperous development,adaptation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and population aging.
The deputy minister said Japan is a very activepartner of ASEAN and has been responsibly taken part in mechanisms led by thisbloc, including the ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN RegionalForum, and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus.
The two sides have shared many viewpoints onregional and international matters, he said, adding that Japan has respectedASEAN’s central role and leadership.
In the time ahead, they will make joint effortsto promote the consistency in their strategies. For example, while Japan has avision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, ASEAN also has a similarviewpoint on this region. If Japan launched an initiative on sustainableinfrastructure, ASEAN has a master plan on connectivity, and they arediscussing ways to connect these two programmes.
Vietnam, as the country coordinator ofASEAN-Japan ties for 2018-2021, should play the main role in coordinating withJapan to create initiatives and carry out activities to guide this relationshipin the next three years, Deputy Minister Dung noted.-VNA
VNA
