Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu: The visit of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man will further deepen Vietnam-Japan relations

On the occasion of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s official visit to Japan from December 3-7, a VNA reporter in Tokyo interviewed Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu about the significance of the visit, the strengths in bilateral relations, and how to promote bilateral ties.

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu of Vietnam in Japan answers questions from a VNA reporter about Chairman Tran Thanh Man's visit to Japan. Photo: Pham Tuan/VNA

Could you please tell us about the significance of the visit to the relations between the two countries?

At the invitation of the Japanese Senate, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man will pay an official visit to Japan for the first time from December 3-7. This will also be the first visit to Japan by a Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman after 12 years since 2012. During the visit, Chairman Man will have an audience with the Emperor, hold talks with the President of the Senate, meet with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, leaders of major political parties, and heads of large Japanese economic organizations. He will also meet with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan and visit Nagasaki.

This visit takes place right after the two countries celebrated one year of upgrading their relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World." Vietnam-Japan relations continue to grow strongly and comprehensively across various fields, with a high level of political trust, frequent high-level exchanges, and tight cooperation. Based on such a strong relationship, Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s visit to Japan will further deepen Vietnam-Japan ties within the framework of this new partnership, especially between the two countries' legislative bodies, providing strong momentum for growth in areas such as economics, trade, investment, and labor, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both nations. As our country enters a new era, an era of national growth, the support and companionship of international friends, especially Japan, will play an extremely important role.

Could you tell us about the strengths in the relationship between the two countries?

Over the past 50 years, with the historic milestone of the two countries upgrading their relationship to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” in November 2023, Vietnam and Japan's relationship has seen remarkable development, growing in strength, depth, and comprehensiveness with high political trust.

Frequent meetings and exchanges between the leaders of the two countries, along with the establishment of major directions for effective development in all fields, is an immense strength in the bilateral relationship.

Additionally, the economies of Vietnam and Japan complement each other very well. Vietnam has a population of over 100 million people, a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, a young and skilled workforce, and a stable economic and political environment, making it an attractive place for investment and business. Japanese investors highly value Vietnam’s friendly people and the opportunities for long-term cooperation.

Furthermore, the cultures, customs, and long-standing exchanges between the Vietnamese and Japanese peoples also contribute to the strong bond between the two nations today.

In your opinion, what should the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Japanese Parliament do to further promote the framework of the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership?

Cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries plays an important role in the overall Vietnam-Japan relationship. Therefore, maintaining high-level exchanges and strengthening cooperation between the specialized agencies of the two parliaments is highly significant for long-term practical benefits.

Recently, both countries have shown high political determination to enhance economic connectivity. The National Assembly of Vietnam and the Japanese Parliament will strengthen mechanisms for exchanging experiences in legislative work, especially in building institutions that facilitate strong socio-economic development, particularly as Vietnam enters a new era of national growth. Japan, with its extensive experience in law-making and legal expert training, can effectively assist Vietnam in enhancing its legislative capacity. The two sides will continue to cooperate closely and effectively in multilateral parliamentary forums, such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), among others.

What do you think needs to be done to further deepen the bilateral relationship?

The potential for cooperation between the two countries is still very large because of the high level of trust and the complementary strengths that can foster mutual development. Moving forward, we need to focus on implementing high-level agreements, particularly in the following areas:

1.    

Continue to strengthen political trust by promoting visits and exchanges, especially at the highest levels.

2.    

Leverage the complementary strengths of the two economies to enhance economic links, maintaining Japan as a top partner of Vietnam in areas such as ODA, investment, trade, and labor.

3.    

Promote cooperation in potential fields such as digital transformation, the digital economy, digital society, and green transformation.

Thank you, Ambassador!

Nguyen Tuyen (VNA)