Earlier, on May 17, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese counterpart Suga Yoshihide discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of shared concern over the phone.

According to VGP, Suga congratulated Chinh on his new role as the Prime Minister of Viet Nam, expressing his wish to work with Chinh to further advance the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan in the future.

Chinh highly valued Japan’s effective assistance for Viet Nam’s national development process during the past years.

He suggested Japan support Viet Nam in (i) developing hard and soft infrastructure in such fields as transport, environment, and digital transformation; (ii) increasing access to COVID-19 vaccines, including through technology transfer; (iii) promoting Japanese investment in the diversification of supply chain, and development of digital economy and digital society; increasing reception of Vietnamese trainees in Japan; (v) and helping to train a high-quality workforce.

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Suga affirmed his nation’s consistent policy of placing importance on relations with Vietnam, and pledged continued support for Vietnam in infrastructure development, especially in the fields of transport, energy, environment, and space cooperation. Japan will offer Vietnam maximum support and collaboration to ensure that the nation has its necessary amount of Covid-19 vaccines. During the process of promoting supply chain diversification, the waves of Japanese investment into Vietnam have increased sharply, VOV quoted the prime minister.

The two prime ministers agreed to strengthen strategic dialogue between Vietnamese and Japanese ministries, sectors, and localities, and coordination to handle issues arising in the bilateral relations, Vietnamnet reported.

They said they will work together in organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (in 2023) commensurate with the strategic partnership.

The two leaders also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue. They agreed to continue working closely at multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations and ASEAN.