Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm delivers a policy speech to Japanese lawmakers at the National Diet in Tokyo on Monday, during his official visit to Japan. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm has confirmed Việt Nam’s desire to accompany Japan on a new development journey, with each country’s progress creating further opportunities for the other, bringing tangible benefits to their people and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

He made the remarks in a policy speech to Japanese lawmakers at the National Diet in Tokyo on Monday, during his official visit to Japan.

The top leader expressed his pleasure at returning to Japan for the first time in his new capacity, saying the visit had given him a deeper appreciation of the value and historical depth of Việt Nam-Japan relations.

General Secretary and President Lâm also expressed his appreciation for the contributions made by the Japanese government, Diet, businesses, experts and people to Việt Nam’s development over the years.

The Japanese government, organisations and people have provided substantial support to Việt Nam in addressing the consequences of war, caring for disadvantaged groups and responding to natural disasters. Their assistance has ranged from mine clearance and rehabilitation and vocational training for Agent Orange victims to healthcare programmes and support for people affected by storms and floods.

Việt Nam has always cherished the solidarity and compassion shown by the Japanese government and people, the top leader said.

Economically, Japan is Việt Nam’s largest official development assistance provider and one of its leading partners in investment, trade and labour cooperation.

He noted that the support and partnership of the Japanese Diet would be important to the long-term cooperation that the two countries seek to build.

He said Việt Nam had identified science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as key drivers of its new development phase, with Japan playing a particularly important role in this process.

Sharing several orientations for the next stage of bilateral relations, the Việt Nam's top leader called for the two countries to build new development capabilities based on knowledge, technology and innovation.

Việt Nam wishes to work with Japan to establish sustainable links among leaders, universities, research institutes and businesses, enabling ideas to be tested, refined and translated into practical applications, the General Secretary and President said.

A view of the meeting at the National Diet in Tokyo on Monday. VNA/VNS Photo

He also highlighted the need to strengthen resilience and adaptability while promoting green and sustainable growth, saying that Việt Nam wishes to work with Japan to develop diversified, transparent and resilient supply chains based on open cooperation and compliance with international commitments.

At the regional level, Việt Nam will collaborate with Japan in safeguarding the rules-based multilateral trading system, carrying out the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and strengthening economic connectivity.

Looking towards APEC Year 2027, Việt Nam hopes to receive Japan’s cooperation in promoting practical initiatives on growth, innovation and greater participation by businesses and people in development opportunities, according to the Vietnamese top leader.

In terms of contributing to a peaceful, stable and cooperative regional environment, General Secretary and President Lâm said Việt Nam appreciated Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s announcement of updated orientations for Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision in Hà Nội in May this year.

He spoke highly of Japan’s emphasis on resilience and each country’s right to determine its own future, saying this opened up further opportunities for the two countries to strengthen their autonomy, generate new growth drivers and enhance their ability to adapt to changes.

Việt Nam stands ready to work with Japan to propose and implement cooperation initiatives that address shared regional priorities, he said.

The two countries seek to ensure that every step forward in their bilateral relations creates new development opportunities for both peoples, while helping consolidate a peaceful and open region where all countries are respected and can benefit from cooperation.

He also expressed Việt Nam’s desire to work with countries around the world to ensure that the Indo-Pacific remains a peaceful, stable, cooperative, secure, fair and open region, with freedom of navigation and a shared space for humanity’s survival and development.

The top leader also called on Japanese agencies, localities and businesses to continue supporting the Vietnamese community and creating favourable conditions for its members to integrate and thrive in Japan.

To turn shared orientations into concrete outcomes, he called for continued cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures.

The two parliaments should continue supporting the proposed cooperation priorities through legislative activities, oversight and policy exchanges, while expanding exchanges among parliamentary bodies, friendship parliamentary groups, young lawmakers and female parliamentarians.

They should also share experience in addressing emerging development issues, ranging from the digital economy and green transition to social policies, he said.

Lâm expressed his confidence that Việt Nam and Japan would continue to nurture their friendship through concrete cooperation outcomes. The two countries look towards a future in which Việt Nam’s development creates more opportunities for Japan, while Japan’s development continues to contribute to Việt Nam’s success.

The achievements of their cooperation, he said, would be reflected in better lives for their people and joint contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world.

At the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives Eisuke Mori said that Japan and Việt Nam shared a traditional friendship founded on deep political trust, cultural and historical similarities, and strong people-to-people ties.

The Japanese Diet values Việt Nam’s remarkable socio-economic development achievements in recent years, as well as the country’s increasingly prominent role and standing in regional and international affairs, according to Mori.

General Secretary and President Lâm’s official visit to Japan is of great significance and will provide fresh impetus for the development of bilateral relations in the new era, he said.

Mori also noted that Việt Nam and Japan have continuously deepened cooperation in various fields in recent years, from politics and economics to culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global situation, President of the House of Councillors Masakazu Sekiguchi expressed his confidence that the two countries could overcome challenges and move forward steadily by joining hands and working together. — VNS