PM Phạm Minh Chính had meeting with former PM of Japan Suga Yoshihide on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

TOKYO — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính received former PM of Japan Suga Yoshihide on Thursday as part of his official visit to the country.

PM Chính conveyed compliments from Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to Suga and invited him to soon visit Việt Nam again.

He expressed his delight at the fast, practical, and comprehensive development of the Việt Nam-Japan extensive strategic partnership and appreciated the former Japanese PM’s sentiments towards Việt Nam and his contributions to the sound bilateral ties.

The two countries have supported each other in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and recovered exchange activities and meetings in the new normal, he said.

PM Chính asked Suga to continue backing and promoting the bilateral relations to a new height, especially in fields where the two sides have potential and demand, including the diversification of supply chains, supporting industry development, innovation, digital transformation, and information technology development, among others.

For his part, Suga highly valued PM Chính’s official visit, believing that it will further bolster the Việt Nam-Japan extensive strategic partnership in all fields.

He shared Japan’s effective experience in COVID-19 prevention and control, particularly raising public awareness of wearing face masks and vaccination, and was willing to introduce experts in the field to Việt Nam.

Suga spoke highly of Việt Nam’s role and important contributions in the region and the world, affirming to closely cooperate with the country and tighten the bilateral friendship. — VNS