Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives former Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide

On the afternoon of December 18, in Tokyo, within the framework of a working trip to attend the Summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN - Japan relations, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received former Japanese Prime Minister, Advisor to the Japan - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Suga Yoshihide.

Thủ tướng Phạm Minh Chính tiếp nguyên Thủ tướng Nhật Bản Suga Yoshihide

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received former Japanese Prime Minister and Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Suga Yoshihide. (Photo: Duong Giang)

In a friendly atmosphere, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sincerely thanked Mr. Suga Yoshihide for his good feelings towards Vietnam; highly appreciated Mr. Suga Yoshihide's positive contributions to the Vietnam - Japan cooperation relationship, especially in supporting Vietnam in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including more than 7.4 million doses of non-refundable vaccine aid.

Emphasizing that the relationship between the two countries over the past 50 years has been very good, with the spirit of "from heart to heart", "from action to action", "from emotion to effectiveness", Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked former Prime Minister, Advisor to the Japan - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Union Suga Yoshihide to continue to pay attention, support and contribute more to concretizing the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into specific programs and projects, bringing about practical results.

Accordingly, promoting continued exchanges of delegations at high and all levels; strengthening economic links, boosting trade cooperation, investment, ODA, diversifying supply chains, developing supporting industries, etc.; cultural cooperation, tourism, people-to-people exchange; expanding cooperation in new areas such as digital transformation, innovation, climate change response, energy transformation, green transformation, circular economy, sharing economy, etc.

The Prime Minister asked Mr. Suga Yoshihide to support and urge Japan to provide new generation ODA loans to Vietnam with simpler and more flexible procedures, focusing on a number of key projects and fields; continue to facilitate, loosen and move towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens entering Japan.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to continue to pay more attention, support and contribute more to concretizing the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into specific projects, bringing about practical results. (Photo: Duong Giang)

Former Prime Minister and Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, Suga Yoshihide, shared his deep affection for Vietnam – the first country he visited after becoming Prime Minister.

He welcomed the progress in bilateral relations, especially the two countries upgrading their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, implementing good cooperation in new fields, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's working visit, which will contribute to opening a new stage of development that is more substantial and effective in bilateral relations.

Mr. Suga Yoshihide appreciated the Vietnamese human resources, which are increasing in number and playing an important role in Japan's socio-economic development.

The former Japanese Prime Minister emphasized that, along with economic cooperation, the two countries need to cooperate to overcome social challenges and achieve sustainable development. He affirmed his willingness to continue to accompany and cooperate closely with Vietnam to further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, especially promoting business cooperation in trade, investment and labor cooperation...

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