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Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) and his Japanese counterpart Suga Yoshihide held phone talks on October 12. Photo: VGP

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide told his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc during their phone talks on October 12 that Japan treasures and expects to lift up the bilateral ties to a new height.

PM Phuc once again extended congratulations to Suga upon his election as Prime Minister of Japan, VGP News reported.

PM Phuc affirmed Vietnam always regards Japan as a top and long-lasting strategic partner and wishes to continue working with the Northeast Asia country to further boost bilateral cooperation and coordination over regional and international issues of shared concerns for mutual benefits and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C). Photo: VNA

The Vietnamese Government chief also thanked Japan for its valuable assistance during the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying he hopes that both countries would continue cooperation and mutual assistance to overcome the epidemic.

PM Suga expressed his pleasure at the robust growth of the Vietnam-Japan ties as well as Vietnam’s active cooperation in containing the virus.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s role and position in the region and the world, Suga pledged to coordinate closely with the country to ensure the success of the upcoming ASEAN Summit and related summits.

He took the occasion to extend sympathy to people in central Vietnam over the consequences caused by rains and floods.

On the occasion, PM Phuc invited PM Suga to visit Vietnam at a convenient time and the latter accepted the invitation.

This is the 19th phone conversation between PM Phuc and world leaders since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suga plans to visit Vietnam and Indonesia in mid-October in his first overseas trip since taking office. Photos by Reuters and Nikkei

Last month, Kyodo News cited government sources as saying that PM Suga is planning to visit Vietnam and Indonesia around mid-October in his first official overseas trip since taking office earlier this month.

If the trip goes ahead, the premier is expected to hold talks with PM Phuc and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Suga will make a final decision on whether to travel after examining the coronavirus situation at home and in the two Southeast Asian countries, where the spread of infections has remained relatively stable compared with other countries such as the US, according to the sources.

If the trip goes ahead, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The plan to visit the ASEAN member states comes as Japan seeks to strengthen ties with countries in the region amid growing tensions between its main security ally the US and its biggest trading partner China, over trade, security and other issues.

Vietnam and Indonesia were also the first overseas destinations for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after he assumed the premiership for the second time in December 2012. Abe pursued closer economic and security ties and Suga is expected to follow suit.

After becoming prime minister on September 16, Suga has held bilateral phone talks with leaders of countries including the US, the Republic of Korea, China and Russia./.

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