Hanoi (VNA) – PartyGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong suggested some orientations for advancing Vietnam- Japan relations during online talks with President of theLiberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on February9.

Underlining that their talks were the firstamong activities marking the 50th anniversary of the countries’diplomatic ties this year, the two leaders agreed to support the two sides’ coordinationin holding celebratory activities in order to enhance all-round cooperation andlift bilateral relations to a new level, thus generating practical benefits forthe two peoples.

General Secretary Trong spoke highlyof Japan’s contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, noting theNortheast Asian country is now a leading economic partner of Vietnam as it isthe biggest official development assistance (ODA) provider and also one of thetop investment, trading, and labour cooperation partners.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistentforeign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperationand development, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations;active, comprehensive and intensive integration into the world; and being atrustworthy partner and an active and responsible member of the internationalcommunity.

Japan is one of the leading partnersof Vietnam, he stated.

Suggesting orientations for enhancingbilateral relations, the Party leader said the two countries should strengthenpolitical ties by maintaining frequent mutual visits and meetings at all levels,and bringing into play cooperation and dialogue mechanisms via flexible forms.

They should step up connections viaall channels and at all levels, including between the Communist Party ofVietnam and the LDP, and between their governments and parliaments; promoteexchanges between young and female leaders of the two ruling parties; encourage people-to-peopleexchanges and locality-to-locality cooperation to intensify friendship; andcontinue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Japan,thereby helping further reinforce the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategicpartnership.

Inaddition, he also proposed Japan continue assisting Vietnam with industrialisationand modernisation; increase connecting the two economies; cooperate toguarantee economic, financial, energy, and food security; and boostpartnerships in investment, trade, agriculture, human resources development,infrastructure, science and technology, support industries, digital transformation,green transition, and response to non-traditional challenges.

General Secretary Trong added that in the current world situation, Vietnam isready to coordinate with Japan in regional and international issues, includingwithin the frameworks of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) andmultilateral forums.

For his part, LDP President and PM Kishidaagreed on the Vietnamese leader’s view on the development of bilateral relations.

Japan will keep expanding cooperation activities with Vietnam in terms ofinvestment, trade, science - technology, and other fields, he noted.

He also appreciated contributions bythe Vietnamese community, which numbers nearly 500,000 at present, to his country’ssocio-economic development, voicing the readiness to provide optimal conditionsfor them to live, work, and study in Japan.

Amid fast and complex developments inthe regional and global situations, the two countries should bolstercoordination and support efforts in consolidating peace, cooperation, anddevelopment in the region and the world, according to Kishida.

At the talks, both sides affirmed theimportance of bilateral relations to each country and of the creation of newmomentum for their ties.

They agreed to direct Vietnamese andJapanese ministries, sectors, and localities to carry out the talks’ outcomesand the agreements reached between the countries, while making the best use of cooperation mechanisms to develop bilateral relations even more strongly./.