Vietnam-Japan Relations Have Strong Developments in Width and Depth

Vietnam-Japan Relations Have Strong Developments in Width and Depth

National Times- Vietnam-Japan relations have a long history, constantly enriched to the higher levels and and currently in the strongest development period.
On September 21, Vietnam and Japan celebrate the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic tie. The two countries’ leaders agreed 2013 was the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year with political, diplomatic, cultural activities were held in various localities of the two countries, to highlight and demonstrate a good stage of development of the bilateral relations.
Exchanges between the Vietnamese and Japanese people began a long time ago. Over 400 years ago, many Japanese merchant ships arrived in Pho Hien in the North and Hoi An in the Central of Vietnam to put the first bricks to build the Japanese town there.
Relationship between Vietnam and Japan develops naturaly that comes from the similarities of the two countries' culture. It is expressed through works, cultural productions still respected, preserved in both Vietnam and Japan.
After 40 years since Vietnam and Japan officially established their diplomatic relations in September 1973, the two countries have become an important partner to each other in all fields including politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, development assistance, human resource development, science and technology, culture, people-to-people exchange, and so on.
Politically, the friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Japan have been continuously consolidated and lifted to a new height, especially since 2009, the two countries’ leaders agreed to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia. Both countries have participated in regular high-level visits and meetings, and have promoted the exchange of delegations between ministries, sectors and localities, contributing to effective implementation of dialogue mechanisms on specific co-operative links. They have also worked closely with each other at international forums, especially at the United Nations and within the framework of regional forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Mekong-Japan Co-operation.
To demonstrate the good relations between the two countries in the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Vietnam paid an official visit to Vietnam in early of 2013. In particular, this is the first foreign tour of Abe after he took office in December 2012.
Japan has been one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners and is the leading provider by the international community of foreign direct investment to Vietnam both in registered capital and disbursement, with a total of 1,990 FDI projects worth about US$32.67 billion, mainly focusing on the processing and manufacturing industries. Japan is also the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, with a value of around US$21 billion since 1992, accounting for 30% of the total ODA committed to Vietnam by the international community. The country is also the third largest bilateral trade partner of Vietnam with two-way trade reaching US$24.7 billion last year. The two countries have also signed a number of agreements including the Vietnam–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA), creating favorable conditions and legal framework for both sides to carry out their bilateral co-operation activities.
Vietnam and Japan have also enjoyed fruitful co-operation in other fields such as education, science and technology, culture, sports, and tourism. In 2012, Vietnam welcomes more than 500,000 Japanese tourist arrivals. Vietnam now has over 20,000 people studying and working in Japan. In my opinion, the Vietnam-Japan bilateral ties are witnessing strong developments. The mutual trust and comprehensive co-operation are precious assets of the two nations. The establishment of a strategic partnership has received high consensus and strong support from the two Governments and peoples. This is an important foundation to develop the bilateral relations in a deeper and more effective manner in the future, for the benefit of both peoples, and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.
The friendship and co-operation and between Vietnam and Japan have developed rapidly in all fields - in both width and depth. It can be said that this is the result of tireless efforts made by the two Governments and peoples for the past 40 years.
In the future, the relationship between the two countries will certainly grow stronger because Vietnam and Japan have mutual political trust. The two sides consider each other’s development as its own development opportunity. The two countries’ leaders have agreed to continue to implement important co-operative programmes and projects such as the Vietnam's Industrialisation Strategy within the framework of the two countries’ co-operation up to 2020, with a vision towards 2030. The two sides are taking firm steps in implementing their objective set in the Joint Statement in 2011 to double two-way trade by 2020. With strong determination and efforts made by the two sides, the Vietnam - Japan strategic partnership is expected to be further developed in the future, for the benefit of both peoples, and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. The 40-year journey of the Vietnam - Japan bilateral ties will be followed by an even stronger attachment between the two nations