Tokyo (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong on November 27 described theadoption of the joint statement on the elevation of the Vietnam - Japan relationsto a “ComprehensiveStrategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” as an important event ushering in a new chapter in the bilateral ties.

Co-chairing an international press conference together with JapanesePrime Minister Kishida Fumio right after theirtalks in Tokyo, the Vietnamese President, who is paying an officialvisit to the East Asian nation, said the two leaders reviewed theachievements and the strong, breakthrough, and comprehensive strides in the two countries’ friendship and cooperation over the last 50 years.

The adoptionof the joint statement on the new partnership was an important event opening up a new chapter in the bilateral relations with practical, comprehensive, and effectivedevelopment, thus meeting both sides’ interests and contributing to peace,stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world at large,he noted.

The twosides also agreed on major orientations for the Vietnam - Japan friendship andcooperation in the time ahead, including in politics, defence - security,economy, and new areas, he went on.

Bothleaders welcomed Japanese official development assistance (ODA) loans forVietnam possibly surpassing 100 billion JPY (671 million USD) in 2023, PresidentThuong said, viewing this as an important prerequisite for the two countries tomaintain and bolster ODA cooperation in the years to come, with a focus onsuch fields as strategic infrastructure, digital transformation, greentransition, climate change response, and health care.

He highly valued PM Kishida’s affirmation of Japan’scontinued support for Vietnam’s industrialisation, modernisation, anddevelopment of an independent and self-reliant economy; Vietnam’s importantrole in the diversification of Japan’s supply chains; pledge to provideconditions for Vietnamese businesses to engage more deeply in global supplychains of Japanese firms; and support for the Southeast Asian country torealise commitments, including the target of net zero emissions by 2050.

The two sides also concurred in stepping up human resourcesconnectivity, locality-to-locality cooperation, tourism links, and cultural andpeople-to-people exchanges, he went on.

President Thuong also underlined that at the talks, theyaffirmed the necessity to maintain a free and open international order with respectfor international law, and that Vietnam and Japan will coordinate closely inissues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue, at international andregional forums.

They voicedsupport for ensuring security and safety of navigation and overflight, andresolving all disputes and differences by peaceful means on the basis ofinternational law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS), according to the Vietnamese leader.

Mentioning the talks’outcomes, PM Kishida said the two sidesdiscussed orientations for the bilateral relations in the future and agreedto elevate the bilateral relationship.

He detailedsome areas the two countries will promote cooperation in, including economy, notingthat Vietnam is an indispensable partner of Japan during the implementation of thelatter’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” initiative, and also an important base ofJapan’s supply chains. The two sides will join hands to co-create futureindustries such as high technology and human resources training, he continued.

Considering the Vietnamesemanpower as indispensable to Japan’s socio-economic development, the hostleader said the two countries will expand exchanges between their young peopleand localities, along with cultural, sports and tourism ties.

Japan and Vietnam willalso intensify cooperation at regional and international forums and worktogether to consolidate and maintain international order and freedom with adherenceto law, the PM added./.