Tokyo (VNA) – Chairman of theNational Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau visitedTokyo on June 19 and 20 to tighten cooperation with the Japanese legislature ona range of issues, including economic ties and the ratification of the CPTPP. 

The official had working sessions withChairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Japanese House ofRepresentatives Yasuhide Nakayama, Foreign Minister Taro Kono, and Cabinetminister in charge of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Toshimitsu Motegi during the stay.

During the meetings, bothsides shared the view that the bilateral relationship is developing fruitfullywithin the framework of the extensive strategic partnership, for peace andprosperity in Asia.

They took note of JapanesePrime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Vietnam on the occasion of his attendanceat the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2017, the officialvisit to Vietnam by Emperor Akihito and EmpressMichiko last year and the most recent visit to Japan by President Tran DaiQuang in May 2018.

The two sides agreed to reinforce thefriendship and comprehensive cooperation in the time to come.

Giau underlined that thebilateral economic-trade cooperation is at its best ever, with Japan being thetop economic partner of Vietnam.

Two-way trade exceeding 33.4billion USD in 2017, and Japan’s direct investment in Vietnam, at over 9billion USD, made up 25 percent of the total foreign direct investment (FDI)poured in the country that year.

As of the end of 2017,Japanese investors had run 3,700 FDI projects worth 50 billion USD, he said,noting symbolic projects like Can Tho and Nhat Tan bridges, and projects onupgrading Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports.

Apart from the enhancedcollaboration in education, training, employment and people-to-people exchange,the bilateral legislative ties have also been stepped up, as reflected throughhigh-level visits by leaders of the two legislatures, exchanges betweenparliamentarians, and mutual support at multilateral inter-parliamentary forums.

The Japanese side said the legislative tieshave become an important factor contributing to the comprehensive cooperation.

Japan also affirmed support for stronger cooperationwith Vietnam, with attention paid to economy, trade and high-quality personneltraining.

Japanese officials expressed their backingof the viewpoints and stance of Vietnam and the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) regarding the East Sea issue, emphasising the need to maintainfreedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation on the basis of respectfor international law.

Chairman of the Committee on ForeignAffairs of the Japanese House of Representatives Yasuhide Nakayama describedGiau’s visit as a new step forward in maintaining and developing the bilaterallegislative ties and concretising agreements reached by leaders of the twolegislative bodies in 2015 and 2017.

Regarding the CPTPP, the two sides agreedthat the signing of the deal is an important event bearing great significancefor curbing the spreading trend of trade protectionism.

They said the ratification andimplementation of the agreement is expected to create a strong boost forregional and global trade.

Giau lauded the pioneer role played byJapan, the second country to ratify the deal, and asked Japan to share itsexperience with Vietnam in the ratification process and provide technicalsupport for Vietnam in implementing the pact.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono appreciatedVietnam’s efforts and Vietnam-Japan cooperation during the process ofnegotiation and signing the CPTPP, and stressed the importance of free tradeand free navigation in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese NA official also discussedwith his Japanese hosts the role of the parliament’s committee for foreignaffairs in supervising the implementation of bilateral agreements andinternational deals to which both countries are members.-VNA