Japanese PM Kishida Fumio hosts a welcome ceremony for his Vietnamese counterpart Phạm Minh Chính. — VNA/VNS Photo

TOKYO — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio agreed major orientations and measures to foster the extensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Japan during their talks on Wednesday.

Affirming that Việt Nam regards Japan as “a reliable, important and long-term strategic partner”, PM Chính said the Vietnamese Government would continue to create an open and transparent investment climate for Japanese businesses and support them to keep their commitment with investors.

The two leaders pledged to bolster co-operation in economic connections, human resource development, science, supply chain, investment, trade, supporting industry, digital transformation, green growth, innovation, smart city, high technology, building infrastructure in response to climate change, receiving trainees and education.

PM Chính thanked the Japanese Government and people for donating 5.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and other medical supplies to Việt Nam.

PM Kishida committed to continue assistance for Việt Nam’s fight against COVID-19 and pledged an additional donation of 1.5 million vaccine doses, adding that the batch will arrive in Việt Nam on Thursday.

PM Chính pledged to actively implement cooperation programmes using the Official Development Assistance fund in COVID-19 recovery, focusing on four sectors: transport infrastructure, infrastructure in response to climate change, healthcare and digital transformation for post-pandemic economic recovery.

The two PMs also agreed to continue to promote effective and practical cooperation in security and defence, especially in transferring technology in defence, military medicine, cyber security, participation in the UN peacekeeping force, overcoming the consequences of Việt Nam war, and improving the law enforcement capacity at sea.

They vowed to work together towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2023 and considered the reopening of commercial flights and the launching of vaccine passport.

PM Kishida said 2023 would mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, adding that Japan will step up the preparation process to make 2023 become an important milestone in Việt Nam-Japan relations.

During their talks, the leaders pledged cooperation at regional and global forums such as the UN, ASEAN and Mekong and step up collaboration in responding to common challenges of the international community.

They emphasised the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, resolving disputes by peaceful means including full respect for diplomatic  and legal processes, without using force or threatening to use force based on the respect for international laws, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS),  

They also highlighted the importance of fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and promoting negotiations to build an efficient, effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

The two PMs witness the exchanging of 10 cooperation agreements between ministries, localities and businesses. — VNA/VNS Photo

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the exchange ceremony of 10 cooperation agreements between ministries, localities and businesses of the two countries.

On this occasion, the two sides issued a joint statement towards a new era of the Việt Nam - Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia.

Earlier, PM Chính met with Japanese President of the House of Councillors Santo Akiko and Speaker of the House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki, separately in Tokyo. — VNS