Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam has been invited to theexpanded G7 Summit in Japan’s Hiroshima, slated for May 20-21, whichdemonstrates the importance the international community attaches to the country’sincreasing role in the region and the world at large, said VietnameseAmbassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu.

Vietnam is among the eight countries that have beeninvited by Japan, which is holding the rotating presidency of the G7 majorpowers, to the event. Notably, Vietnam is one of the two Southeast Asian guestnations, apart from Indonesia – ASEAN Chair 2023, the diplomat told the VietnamNews Agency (VNA).

This is the third time Vietnamese leaders haveattended the summit, following their attendance in 2016 in Japan and in 2018 inCanada, and the second time Vietnam has been invited as a single nation, not inits capacity as a representative of an organisation or a group of countries inthe region.

Hieu stressed that the invitation reflects theinternational community’s appreciation of Vietnam’s active and proactiveinternational integration, as well as its efforts and constructive, responsiblecontributions to common international issues such as sustainable development,climate change response, food security and energy security.


The fact that Japan once again invited theVietnamese Prime Minister to attend the summit also mirrors the thriving ExtensiveStrategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia between the twocountries, he continued.

It also reflects the importance Japan attaches toVietnam’s role and position in the region, as well as Japan’s hope for further coordinationand support from Vietnam at multilateral forums, and the Southeast Asian nation’scontributions to settling common international and regional issues.

Hieu noted that all member countries of G7 andexpanded G7 place importance to cooperative ties with Vietnam, and wish to boostmutually beneficial multi-faceted collaboration with the nation, thus promotingtheir influence in Southeast Asia in particular and Asia-Pacific in general.

Priorthe announcement of the invitation, JapanesePM Fumio Kishida announced over 75 billion USD infrastructure assistancefor Indo-Pacific, he said, adding that the PM considers the summitan opportunity to discuss cooperation with developing and emergingnations, alongwith development assistance and how to cope with challenges, and ensurefoodsecurity and environmental security globally.

G7 nations haveagreed to include Vietnam into thelist of priority countries in energy cooperation. Therefore, the summitis an opportunity for Vietnam to approach the investment and enhancecollaboration with the G7 nations in economic model transformation andpostCOVID-19 economic recovery, he said. 

According to the ambassador, the major contents ofthe G7 Summit and the expanded G7 Summit match Vietnam’s interests.

The summit will be a chance for Vietnam to introduceits foreign policy, promote its image, call for support and attract foreigninvestments, while displaying its sense of responsibility in contributing tohandling common regional and international issues, he went on.

Asked about the Vietnam-Japan relations, theambassador said Japan’s two invitations come from the thriving bilateralextensive strategic partnership, for the sake of the two peoples, and for peaceand prosperity in Asia and the world.

PM Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming trip to Japandemonstrates Vietnam’s consistent policy in its relations with Japan, as wellas the importance and priority Vietnam gives to enhancing the extensivestrategic partnership, for prosperity and development in Asia.

It will be an opportunity to further promotespecific measures in order to connect the two economies through cooperation ininvestment, trade and ODA, and step up collaboration in all spheres, thediplomat said.

He described the trip as a demonstration of politicaltrust between the two countries, and Vietnam’s responsibility in addressing globalchallenges, adding it will give more momentum to the Vietnam-Japanrelationship.

Hieu emphasised that since the two countries establisheddiplomatic ties in 1973, the bilateral relationship has been developingconstantly in various areas, from politics to economy, culture and sports, andat all levels.

He said that there is “limitless potential” for theVietnam-Japan relations, and the celebrations of the bilateral diplomatic ties thisyear will offer an opportunity to look back on the relationship, and create afoundation for it to grow more outstandingly towards the future, reaching theregional and global levels./.