Vietnam, Japan boost strategic partnership

Vietnam, Japan boost strategic partnership

Kuwait Times-19.3.2014: President Truong Tan Sang of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is on a state-level visit to Japan – an important strategic partner of Hanoi in the Northeastern Asia region (from 16/3 to 19/3/2014). This historic visit is made right after the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between the two countries, profoundly consolidating the friendship between the two peoples who have many cultural, historical and social commonalities.

Despite the fact that the official diplomatic relation have just been 40 years long, the historical connections the two nations was initiated in the 8th century. During the 16th-17th centuries and especially in the first decades of the 20th century, the trading, cultural and political interactions had contributed significantly to Vietnam – Japan relation. That fact has become a crucial basis for the sound development of the relation between the two countries nowadays. After four decades, the economic and trading relations between Hanoi and Tokyo have appeared to be the field that most dynamically developed. Japan remains to be the biggest ODA and FDI provider to Vietnam and recently became the third biggest trading partner of Vietnam. Meanwhile, Japan stands among the best destinations for the Vietnamese oversea students, trainees and apprentice.

While the bilateral relation felt into a decline of friendliness from 1979 to 1991 due to the misunderstanding regarding some regional issues, the two nations have now indeed reached a much deeper trust, and consented to establish the “Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia”. Multilateral forums such as those in the UN, APEC, IPU, EAS, ARF, ADMM Plus…have improved the mutual understanding and trust between the two nations, as well as consolidating their positions on regional and international stages. It is the mutual understanding and trust that cement the two strategic partners.

Vietnam, with a history of defeating many empires in the world, now has become an active nation, which quickly got up from the ruins of war and obtained many achievements to create its own place and role among the international community. Japan, similarly, is a country which has always come back strongly after each severe suffering and unyieldingly overcome any hardship to move ahead. These commonalities, along with the mutual trust and the commitments from the leaders of the both sides, are making hopes among the international community about an Asia of prosperity and peace.

The statement by President Truong Tan Sang in front of Japan’s Parliament, “Being innovative and creative to get adapted to a changing world is the indispensible choice of all nations and peoples, and Japan and Vietnam are not of exception. Vietnam welcomes and continues to trust in the success of Japan”, expresses Vietnam’s strong commitment of engaging to its strategic partner in this eventful Asia.