Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

TOKYO  – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka on Saturday.

At his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the two leaders agreed to accelerate the implementation of agreements signed during high-level official visits between the two countries, particularly the Russia trip this June, thus boosting the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in a substantive, deeper and effective manner, especially in the fields of energy, oil and gas, and high tech.

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison highly valued the flourishing relations between Việt Nam and Australia, affirming the Australian Government’s commitment to elevating the bilateral strategic partnership to new heights in various areas.
He expressed his support for Việt Nam’s position as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and wished to further enhance ties within the ASEAN plus one mechanism.

PM Morrison agreed with PM Phúc’s proposal on close coordination in implementing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) as well as accelerating the early conclusion of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

At the meeting with German Prime Minister Angela Merkel, who appreciated effective exchange activities on measures to boost the strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Germany, the two leaders affirmed their commitments to enhancing the bilateral partnership in a more extensive and substantive manner.

In talks with President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in, the two sides agreed to take measures to boost bilateral ties and coordination in regional and international of shared concern, including the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula.

Meanwhile, President of the World Bank David Malpass highlighted Việt Nam’s achievements in socio-economic development, poverty reduction and infrastructure construction, affirming the continued support for Việt Nam in specific investment projects and consulting on sustainable development policies.

President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao spoke highly of the strong development of Việt Nam’s economy which is expected to expand 7 per cent this year, while considering the Southeast Asian nation a good example in sustainable development and socio-economic management, particularly public debt management and reduction.

He affirmed the ADB wanted to promote cooperation with Việt Nam, especially in loans for infrastructure and social development and structural reform, while proposing the two sides ink loan agreements in healthcare and human resources development worth US$225 million.

He revealed the ADB’s plan to provide Việt Nam with $315 million in loans to carry out projects on enhancement of capacity for climate change adaptation and urban environment improvement in the 2019 fiscal year.

Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres congratulated Việt Nam on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, saying that the country would be an important factor contributing to the UN body’s activities.

He appreciated Việt Nam’s contributions to peace and stability in the world, including the continued deployment of peacekeeping forces to South Sudan, and affirmed his support for Việt Nam to fulfil its roles at the UN.

The two sides discussed issues of security and development in the region and the world as well as measures to foster cooperation between the UN and ASEAN in 2020 when Việt Nam assumes ASEAN Chair.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuân Phúc took the opportunity to invite the UN Secretary General to visit Việt Nam and attend related activities of ASEAN in 2020. The latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Meeting Japanese investors

Also on Saturday, PM Phúc met with leaders of some Japanese groups which are investing in Việt Nam as part of his trip to Japan’s Osaka to attend the 14th G20 Summit. 

Meeting with President, CEO and Director of Marubeni, Kakinoki Masumi, the leader spoke highly of the corporation’s operations in Việt Nam over the past seven decades and suggested Marubeni continue its long-term investment in the country in other spheres, apart from energy. 

Masumi said the corporation was operating the Thái Bình 1 Thermal Power Plant, which was inaugurated last February, and implementing the Nghi Sơn 2 Thermal Power Plant project whose construction is scheduled to be completed in 2020. 

Marubeni wants to invest in electricity production using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is selecting venues for the project, according to the CEO. 

Along with infrastructure and energy, the corporation wishes to engage in other sectors in Việt Nam, including large-scale water treatment, distribution, e-commerce, sports, entertainment, healthcare and smart cities, Masumi added. 

At a reception for President and Director of JXTG Holdings, Inc, Tsutomo Sugimori, PM Phúc applauded cooperation between JXTG and the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex). 

Sugimori briefed the leader on its cooperation plan with Petrolimex, and called on the PM to continue supporting the collaboration in the future. 

JXTG aims to join hands with Petrolimex to help Việt Nam diversify its petroleum supply chain and ensure energy security. 

In this regard, PM Phúc assigned Petrolimex to make a detailed report on the project, saying it was necessary to thoroughly assess the project in order to ensure investment efficiency. 

In a meeting with Nobiru Adachi, President Commissioner of J Trust, the PM highly valued the bank’s experience and financial capacity in restructuring and restoring the operation of banking organisations with financial difficulties in the region. 

He noted that the Vietnamese Government was accelerating the restructuring of the financial and banking system, aiming to make it healthier. 

Speaking highly of J Trust’s wish to participate in bank restructuring in Việt Nam, the PM suggested the Japanese bank promptly coordinate with the State Bank of Việt Nam to carry out necessary steps. 

Adachi said Japanese enterprises considered Việt Nam an attractive investment destination, noting Ja Trust is interested in Việt Nam’s financial and banking sectors and wants to engage in the restructuring of banks in the country.

Japan-Việt Nam Friendship

Prime Minister Phúc hosted a reception for Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVPA), in Wakayama prefecture’s Kinokawa city on June 30.

During the reception, PM Phúc laid stress on the strong development of the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries, to which Nikai and the JVPA had made significant contribution.

He took the occasion to laud the LDP leader’s initiative to organise a lotus exchange event in Wakayama prefecture, thus making lotus a symbol connecting the friendship and cultures of Việt Nam and Japan.

PM Phúc hoped Toshihiro Nikai, a Lower House member representing Wakayama prefecture, and leaders of Wakayama prefecture would support cooperation with Việt Nam, maintain delegation exchanges, and enhance trade and investment promotion activities with the Southeast Asian country.

He also wished that the Japanese sides would pay more attention to partnerships in the training of high-quality human resources in Việt Nam.

Nikai said besides state and parliamentary diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy, cultural exchanges, and cooperative programmes between localities are crucial to promote the bilateral ties.

He suggested holding exchanges of “young ambassadors” to educate young generations of the two counties on the traditional friendship between the two peoples. — VNS