Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc heldphone talks with his Japa𓂃nese counterpart Shinzo Abe on August 4 to discusspromoting bilateral ties as well as cooperation at regional and global fo🍨rums.

It was their secondconversation over telephone in the past three months. PM Phuc said Vietnam is continuing to implement drastic measures to respond to COVID-19 and has gradually put the epidemic under control . He thankedJapan for providing its support for the country and asked the Japanese Government to continue assisting the Vietnamese community in Japan. PM Abe thanked theVietnamese Government and people for providing medical masks for Japan andexpressed his admiration for the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to control thepandemic. The Vietnamese PM welcomed Japan’sselection of Vietnam as one of the first countries to relax travellingrestrictions, adding that Vietnam is creating favourable conditions forJapanese experts, investors and managers to come to Vietnam. He proposed that both sides continuediscussing the resumption of air services in the near future. Abe spoke highly of the two countries' agreement to step-by-stepresume travelling for their people, adding that he hopes to continue further expanding travelling between the two nations whileensuring pandemic prevention and control. He informed PM Phuc that half of the Japanesebusinesses that receive support from the Government to expand supply chains, have chosenVietnam, and the Japanese Government will continue assisting firms indiversifying supply chain.  Japan also stays ready to help Vietnam fight droughtand saltwater intrusion, Abe said.  PM Phuc said the Vietnamese Governmenthas established a special working group on investment cooperation, which he said will offer supportto Japanese enterprises to do successful business in the country. He suggested PM Abe continue encouragingJapanese firms to enhance investment in Vietnam.

Both sides agreed to work closelytogether to carry out the Vietnam – Japan university project, promote regional tradeand investment, including the implementation of the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
        
They vowed to continue with mutual liaison at multilat꧃eral forums and onregional ꦚand global issues of shared concern, as well as to promote cooperation within theMekong – Japan framework.

The Vietnamese Government leader pledged to work closely with Japan to promote the universal health coverage initiative as wellas Japan’s initiative to establish the ASEAN Centre for emerging diseases and publichealth emergencies.

Hailing Vietnam’s efforts in its roleas ASEAN Chair, Abe said Japan will work closely with Vietnam to successfullyhold ASEAN’s related meetings. He also looked forward to visiting Vietnam to attend theASEAN Summit and hold discussion with PM Phuc./.