PM arrives in Japan, beginning G7 trip, holds talks with ROK president
HIROSHIMA Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and a high-ranking delegation from Việt Nam yesterday began the three-day trip to attend the expanded Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) and pay a working visit to Japan at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio.
Welcoming PM Chính and the Vietnamese delegation at the airport were Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamada Kenji, Governor of Hiroshima prefecture Hidehiko Yuzaki, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Phạm Quang Hiệu, among others.
According to the working agenda of the expanded G7 Summit, the Vietnamese leader will attend three discussion sessions on the topics of handling multiple crises, joint efforts for a sustainable planet, and working towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous world.
He is scheduled to participate in activities related to the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) initiative, and have bilateral meetings with leaders of countries and international organisations.
At the discussion sessions, and multilateral and bilateral activities, the PM is expected to contribute to the international community in association with Việt Nam's interests on many issues, especially those related to security-development, sustainable development, health cooperation, climate change response, the environment and energy.
Through those activities, PM Chính will convey the message of Việt Nam's dynamic development, innovation, extensive and effective international integration, and proactive and responsible contributions to the common affairs of the international community, while protecting and promoting the legitimate interests of the country.
PM Chính will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio to discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.
He is set to attend and deliver a speech at a seminar with leaders of large Japanese enterprises.
The invitation for Việt Nam to attend the expanded G7 Summit by Japan, which is holding the rotating Presidency of the G7, demonstrates the importance that the G7 and Japan attach to the country’s increasing role in the region.
This is the third time Vietnamese leaders have attended the summit, following their attendance in 2016 in Japan and in 2018 in Canada, and the second time Việt Nam has been invited as a single nation, not in its capacity as a representative of an organisation or a group of countries in the region.
Meeting with ROK President
Also yesterday, after meeting the Vietnamese community in Japan, PM Chính held talks with Republic of Korea (Rok)'s President Yoon Suk Yeol in Hiroshima.
PM Chính expressed his pleasure at the remarkable achievements in the relationship between the two countries over the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, including the upgrading of the bilateral relationship to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" last year.
The Vietnamese Government leader affirmed that Việt Nam and ROK share many similar strategic interests in the development of each country as well as views on various international and regional issues, especially the promotion of the role of international law, multilateralism, and putting people at the centre of service.
In its foreign policy approach, Việt Nam consistently values its relationship with ROK, and desires to deepen cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on economic and trade cooperation as the core, political trust as the foundation, contributing to peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
On Việt Nam's economic and social development orientations, PM Chính affirmed with the ROK leader that Việt Nam is building a Socialist rule-of-law state, a socialist-oriented market economy, and a socialist-oriented democracy that places people at the centre, as the objective, subject, and driving force for development.
In that spirit, PM Chính proposed that the ROK continue to cooperate and support Việt Nam in five specific areas, including capital, technology, human resources, institutional building, and management.
The Vietnamese PM suggested that the two sides continue to promote economic, trade, and investment cooperation, with the goal of achieving a balanced and healthy trade of US$150 billion by 2030. He also welcomed ROK businesses to invest in major infrastructure projects in Việt Nam, and vouched that the State, Government, and relevant agencies of Việt Nam will continue to create favourable conditions for Rok's businesses.
President Yoon Suk Yeol concurred with the Vietnamese leader on the assessment of the outstanding results of bilateral ties over time, and affirmed that Việt Nam is one of the Rok's top important partners in the region, as demonstrated by Việt Nam being its third-largest trading partner.
Regarding the orientations of the relationship's development, the ROK is ready to work with Việt Nam for closer cooperation in various fields, especially in areas where the ROK has strengths and Việt Nam has needs, such as science and technology, innovation, etc., contributing to the socio-economic development and improving the lives of people in both countries.
The two leaders also affirmed that practical measures will be taken to support the Vietnamese community living and working in the ROK and the Korean community living and working in Việt Nam.
Both sides agreed to continue to exchange and coordinate on international and regional issues of common concern at multilateral cooperation mechanisms and international organisations, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.