Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda Koichi (right) and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên (left) at talks on Thursday in Tokyo, Japan. — Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Industry and Trade

TOKYO — Japan considers Việt Nam to be a leading partner in Asia and in the world, the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hagiuda Koichi said on Thursday.

Hagiuda made the statement at a meeting with the Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyễn Hồng Diên, within the framework of Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s official visit to Japan during November 23-25.

Recently, Japanese businesses, especially those operating in the field of automobile manufacturing, have suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

The Japanese minister said he hoped that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade would continue to accompany and support Japanese businesses investing in Việt Nam to overcome their difficulties and ensure that supply chains continue to best serve production and business activities, given the complicated developments of the pandemic.

Diên noted with pleasure that trade turnover between the two countries has increased again, with a growth rate of 6.4 per cent in the first ten months of this year, compared to a decline of nearly 1 per cent last year. He added that that the Việt Nam-Japan trade balance has been maintained.

He suggested Hagiuda facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese goods into distribution channels in Japan, as well as continued support for Vietnamese firms taking part in the supply chains of Japanese enterprises to maintain the balance of trade.

The Vietnamese government has applied a strategy of safe and flexible adaptation to effectively control the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that many policies were issued to support businesses in terms of tax, insurance and labour to support post-pandemic recovery. These measures have been helping enterprises and foreign investors in Việt Nam, including Japanese investors, recover strongly, Diên added.

Regarding industrial development and the digital economy, Diên said that Việt Nam is implementing a digital transformation strategy, as well as focusing on developing foundational and supporting industries.

Việt Nam considers Japan a leading developed country with a lot of experience in the above fields, he said, suggesting Japan provide new ODA support packages for the Southeast Asian country to develop digital economic infrastructure and assist it in the development of foundation and supporting industries.

Agreeing with Diên’s proposals, Haguida emphasised that Japan will continue to promote cooperation with Việt Nam in the field of digital transformation.

Japan will also strengthen collaboration to improve the industrial competitiveness of Việt Nam through technology transfer, including effectively realising the "Việt Nam-Japan Industry Innovation Cooperation Partnership" initiative, he said.

Relating to cooperation within the multilateral framework, the two ministers pledged to continue working closely on the enforcement of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

They asserted that the cooperative relationship in the fields of trade, industry and energy between Việt Nam and Japan in the future will become closer and more effective, continuing to make an important contribution to the good development of the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries. — VNS