Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam always regards Japan as a leading and long-term strategicpartner with a high level of trust, Party General Secretary and State PresidentNguyen Phu Trong told visiting Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide onOctober 19.

At a reception forthe visiting PM in Hanoi, the Vietnamese leader said the PM’s selection ofVietnam for his first overseas trip after taking office demonstrates the specialattention he gives to the country as well as bilateral ties.

He expressed his delight at the strong development of bilateral ties inrecent times, with high political trust across all spheres in the spirit of the Joint Vision Statement on Vietnam-Japan Relations.

The two countries have shown thespirit of an extensive strategic partnership and become good friends amiddifficulties, he said, adding that they have actively supported each other inthe fight against COVID-19.

The Japanese PM saidhe is impressed by Vietnam’s achievements in reform and admires itssuccess in containing the pandemic.

Japan alwayshighly values Vietnam’s position in the region and backs its development, hewent on, noting that his new administration will inherit and comprehensively developthe Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership cultivated by generations ofleaders and people of the two nations.

He informed Party General Secretary and State President Trongabout the outcomes of talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and affirmedhis wish to maintain all-level exchanges between the two countries throughresult-oriented forms, thus gradually restoring travel and cooperation indifferent fields.

The Vietnamese leader affirmedthat his country will consistently pursue a foreign policy of independence,self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development, the multi-lateralisationand diversification of external relations, and deepening ties with partners.

He spoke highly ofJapan’s stance on the East Sea issue, including the settlement of disputes anddifferences by peaceful measures, in line with international law, particularlythe 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The visiting PM laudedVietnam’s active, effective, and responsible performance in its capacity as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and ASEAN Chair2020.

Japan will furtherits close cooperation with Vietnam at regional and international forums, andsupport Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issue, he pledged.

The two leadersshared a belief that relations between the ruling parties of the two countrieswill make progress in the new era on the basis of the memorandum ofunderstanding on cooperation they reached, thus creating a fine politicalfoundation for relations between the two countries in other areas.

On this occasion, theJapanese PM also expressed his hope that Vietnam’s upcoming 13th National Party Congress will be a success./.