Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe (Photo: VNA)Tokyo (VNA) – Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Japan Nguyen Xuan Phuc and ShinzoAbe have reaffirmed their determination to foster the Vietnam-Japanrelationship in a comprehensive and extensive manner in a joint statement ondeepening the two countries’ extensive strategic partnership.
The following is the full text of the joint statement which was issued during PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Japan from June 4-8.
“At the invitation of Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, PrimeMinister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid anofficial visit to Japan. During the visit from 4 to 8 June 2017, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc was received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor andthe Empress of Japan, held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, andhad meetings with other Japanese political and economic figures, attended andaddressed at the Vietnam Investment Conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also visited some prefectures of the Kansairegion of Japan.
The development of Vietnam – Japan relations
1. Both sides noted with satisfaction therobust, comprehensive and substantive growth of the Vietnam-Japan relationshipin all areas since its upgrade to the “Extensive Strategic Partnership forPeace and Prosperity in Asia” in 2014. Mutual visits and contacts by high-levelleaders of both countries have taken place on a regular basis, contributing tostrengthening mutual political trust. Bilateral economic, trade and investmentties have expanded significantly, helping to promote the connectivity betweenthe two economies. Cooperation in the areas of defense and security,agriculture, science and technology, education and training, environment,climate change response, labor, construction, information, health, culture,tourism, sports and province-to-province and people-to-people exchanges haveseen substantive progress.
2. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe highly valued theachievements in socio-economic development of Vietnam thanks to theimplementation of the reform (Doi Moi) policy during the past 30 years as wellas Vietnam’s efforts for promoting economic restructuring and growth modeltransformation to step up national industrialization and modernization atpresent. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly valued achievements in theimplementation of the Abenomics for Japan’s economy, and expressed his beliefthat the Japanese economic growth will firmly contribute to the regional andglobal economic development.
3. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressedhis gratitude to Japan, the largest donor providing Official DevelopmentAssistance (ODA), for the effective assistance to Vietnam's sustainable socialand economic development, and poverty reduction. He also highly valued theactive role and contribution by Japanese companies to the economic developmentand national construction in Vietnam. Both leaders shared the intention tocooperate in resolving the bottlenecks which hinder smooth implementation ofJapan’s ODA projects.
4.Both leaders emphasized that Vietnam and Japan are important partners to eachother with shared strategic interests. They confirmed that the two countriesare presented with favorable conditions to further deepen the Vietnam-Japanextensive strategic partnership. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reiteratedthat Japan continued to be a top and long-term partner of Vietnam, and hopedthat Japan would continue to play an active and constructive role ininternational and regional issues. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe highly appreciatedVietnam's increasingly important and active role in international and regionalissues, and reaffirmed the importance Japan attaches to Vietnam in its foreignpolicy in the Asia-Pacific.
5.Both leaders reaffirmed their determination to foster the Vietnam-Japanrelationship in a comprehensive and extensive manner by further enhancingpolitical trust, improving the cooperation mechanisms, promoting economicconnectivity, strengthening human resources development cooperation, andcooperating closely on regional and international issues. Both leaders sharedthe intention to maintain regular exchange of visits and contacts betweenhigh-level leaders, political parties and parliaments, including atmultilateral forums.
During the visit, both sides signed manycooperation frameworks between their ministries, agencies, local authoritiesand businesses.
Political, Defense and Security Relations
6. Both leaders shared the desire tostrengthen cooperation in defense and security areas, to maintain and enhancethe effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms, and to promote the exchange ofdelegations at various levels. They shared the intention to enhance cooperationin building capacity in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well asin participating in the United Nations Peacekeeping operations, and to promotecooperation in defense equipment and technology, in information technology andin human resources development, as appropriate. Both leaders will continue toconsider the possibilities of cooperation in the Vietnamese efforts inovercoming the damage caused by the war through removing landmines andunexploded ordinances and dioxin upon concrete requests by the Vietnamese side.
7. Both leaders confirmed the intention toenhance cooperation in responding to non-traditional security issues, includingcyber-security, and in countering cyber-crimes, international terrorism andtransnational crimes.
8. Both leaders highlighted the commitment tostrengthen maritime security and safety cooperation such as search and rescueand anti-piracy measures, including through information exchange between coastguard agencies of both countries and cooperation under the Regional CooperationAgreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)framework. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to assist Vietnam in strengtheningmaritime law enforcement capability, including human resource development.Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated Japan’s assistance toenhance maritime law enforcement capability, including the provisions by Japanof used vessels and new patrol vessels and defense capacity buildingassistance, and welcomed vessels of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force andthe patrol ships of the Japan Coast Guard to visit Vietnam in accordance withthe Vietnamese law.
9.Both sides shared the view on the importance of arms export control to counterthe proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Economic,trade, investment and energy cooperation
10.Both leaders shared the intention to closely collaborate in strengtheningconnectivity between the two economies as stated in the 2015 “Joint VisionStatement on Vietnam-Japan Relations" with focus on linking their economicdevelopment strategies, production capacity and human resources on the mutuallycomplimentary, mutually reinforcing and mutually beneficial basis.
11.Both leaders shared the intention to maintain their close collaboration to makemaximum use of the existing dialogue mechanisms such as the Vietnam-JapanCooperation Committee, the Vietnam-Japan Joint Committee on Industrial, Tradeand Energy Cooperation and the Japan-Vietnam Agricultural Cooperation Dialogue,as well as other ongoing dialogue mechanisms in ODA, investment, labor, scienceand technology, justice, environment, construction, among others. They highlyvalued the outcomes of the Vietnam Investment Conference on 5th June 2017.
12.Both leaders shared the intention to promote their bilateral trade cooperation,striving to realize the goal of doubling two-way trade and investment from 2014till 2020.
13.Noting that Vietnam’s economic development is very important for the region,Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his continued and strong support to Vietnam'ssustainable economic growth through cooperation in quality infrastructure development,energy, climate change response and human resources development. Both sideswitnessed with delight the signing of the exchange of Notes of yen loanprojects worth ¥100.3 billion pledged by Japan in fiscal year 2016 for fourprojects in Vietnam, namely the Maritime Security and Safety CapacityImprovement Project, the Ben Tre Water Management Project, the Bien Hoa CityDrainage and Wastewater Treatment Systems Project (Stage 1), the Hoa LacScience and Technology City Development Project (phase II), and three grantassistance projects in the fields of disaster prevention and human resourcesdevelopment, as well as and the loan Agreement for the Hoa Lac Science andTechnology City Development Project.
14.Both leaders shared the view that Japan would provide support to expeditinghigh quality, large scale and critical national infrastructure projects,including the North-South expressway and the metro railway. They confirmed thatboth sides continue to cooperate in implementing the Hoa Lac Science andTechnology City Development project. Both sides would continue the discussionon the expressway project connecting Hanoi (Vietnam) and Vientiane (Laos). TheVietnamese side welcomed Japanese companies’ wish to participate in the LongThanh airport project, the underground arcade in Ben Thanh and the BRT bussystem in Binh Duong province.
15.Both leaders confirmed their willingness to make efforts to facilitateprocedures to allow exportations of Japanese citrus fruit into Vietnam andVietnamese lychee, longan fruit into Japan and to proceed cooperation inprotection of geographical indications.
16.The Japanese side confirmed its support for Vietnam in implementing plans ofthe six selected industries in Vietnam's Industrialization Strategy as outlinedin the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Framework until 2020 with vision to 2030, in amutually beneficial manner, as well as organizing a working group for theeffective implementation of the Strategy and that Japan would consider trainingadvanced engineers for the six industries in the Industrialization Strategy.They confirmed to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, including theconstruction of high-efficient and environmentally compliant coal-fired powerplants as well as the application of new liquefied natural gas technology. Bothleaders will also make efforts to promote negotiations towards promptcommencement of commercial operation of three BOT projects of coal-fired powerplants. Both leaders will intensify cooperation on energy saving and power griddevelopment.
17.The Vietnamese side will consider and realize concrete and strong measuresconsistent with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements for the purposeof sustaining and expanding domestic production of Complete Build Units (CBUs)as first priority. Both sides will establish a working group and developconcrete measures incorporated in an action plan by the end of this year. TheJapanese side confirmed its support for Vietnam’s automobile and supportingindustries.
18.Both leaders shared the intention to coordinate closely to improve theinvestment environment in Vietnam through the implementation of the 6th phaseof the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative on improving the investment climate andlegal system, strengthening the governance and restructuring of VietnameseState-Owned Enterprises with ensuring the information disclosure by companies.Both leaders expressed their wish to promote more investment from Japanesecompanies into Vietnam and to promote public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
19.The Vietnamese side confirmed that Japan is one of the cooperation partners inthe field of peaceful use of atomic energy.
Agriculture,environment, climate change response, science and technology, education andtraining, justice, information and communications technology and construction
20.Both leaders decided to promote cooperation for comprehensive development ofthe agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors in Vietnam, to continue workingclosely to implement the "Japan-Vietnam Medium-Long Term Vision onAgricultural Cooperation", and organize the 4th Japan-Vietnam AgriculturalCooperation Dialogue as a high-level meeting in 2017, and to consider mutuallybeneficial cooperation such as Japanese investment into clean and high-techagriculture in Vietnam.
21.Both leaders welcomed the renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation on LowCarbon Growth for the Joint Crediting Mechanism for the period from 2016 to2020. They shared the intention to maintain close collaboration in theenvironment, climate change responses, hydro-meteorology and natural resources,the environment and marine biodiversity research and surveillance. They alsoshared the intention to facilitate cooperation in waste management, includingwaste-to-energy, building on the achievement of cooperation in developing wastemanagement laws and regulations. The Japanese side is committed to supporting Vietnamin dealing with climate change, drought and saline intrusion, working with Vietnamto find long-term and fundamental solutions and considering utilizing ODA inthis regard.
22.Both leaders shared the view to further promote collaborative activities insuch research fields as space and healthcare, including infectious diseases.
23. Both leaders shared the intention to promotecooperation in the field of information and communications technology,especially cooperation in telecommunication and its cyber-security, frequencyand postal services by utilizing such schemes as Joint Working Groups.Acknowledging the importance of the wireless information transmission systemfor aeronautical and maritime transport safety, both leaders will promote thestudy of possibility of cooperation in establishing the High Frequency RadioMonitoring System.
24.Both leaders shared the intention to promote cooperation on human resourcesdevelopment under the Industrial Human Resources Development Initiative as wellas by utilizing the Japan-Vietnam University and “Innovative Asia.” As for Vietnam’sefforts for administrative structure reform and training of future leaders, theJapanese side stands ready to provide training opportunities for more than 800officials for the next five years through master’s and doctoral courses atJapanese universities and short- and medium-term courses in Japan and Vietnam.
25. Both leaders shared the intention tocooperate to enhance Japanese-language education and expand the Japaneseeducation model, and to promote inter-university exchanges between the twocountries.
26.Both leaders welcomed the newly-opened Japan Student Services Organization(JASSO) office in Hanoi and will promote cooperation on student exchanges anddistribution of information on studying in Japan. Both leaders will alsocooperate in setting up KOSEN (NIT) office in Hanoi which will contribute tothe improvement of quality of vocational education in Vietnam.
27.Both leaders welcomed the active participation of Vietnamese Technical InternTrainees in Japan and the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on theTechnical Intern Training Program, and confirmed the intention to properlyimplement the Technical Intern Training Program to transfer technical skillsfrom Japan to Vietnam, in accordance with the new Act on Proper TechnicalIntern Training and Protection of Technical Trainees that will come into forcein November 2017. Both leaders will also work closely to promote cooperationfor the appropriate implementation of technical intern training and to holdperiodical working level meetings to address various issues surrounding theTechnical Intern Training Program.
28.Both leaders welcomed a steady progress of dispatching and accepting Vietnamesecandidates for nurses and certified care workers to Japan based on the EconomicPartnership Agreement between the two countries, and will cooperate for itssmooth and appropriate implementation.
29.Both leaders shared the intention to continue legal and judicial cooperation byeffective implementation of the existing programs and projects, and toproactively study the possibility of bilateral agreements on mutual legalassistance on criminal matters and on transfer of sentenced persons.
30.Both sides shared the intention to strengthen comprehensive cooperation inurban development, especially effective implementation of eco-cities, smartcities, and Transit-oriented Development (TOD) integrated cities in line withJapan’s models, to promote investment cooperation in urban renovation anddevelopment and to transfer technologies in water, sewage and solid wastetreatment.
Cooperationin culture, sports, tourism, people-to-people exchange and exchange betweenlocalities
31.Both sides shared the intention to work closely to step up their culturalcooperation and people-to-people exchange, to further cultural exchangesthrough the co-organization of exchange activities to promote each country'speople, culture, and arts, and to promote mutual understanding of each other’sculture, tradition and history. Both sides also shared their desire to continuecooperation and exchanges between them according to WA Project as well asJapanese language education.
32.Both leaders welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on sportscooperation to strengthen the cooperation towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic andParalympic Games within the framework of the “Sport for Tomorrow” program.
33.Both leaders shared the view that tourism cooperation in such areas as inenhancing destination marketing initiatives of each country, providingtechnical assistance and developing workforce skills should be promoted with aview to further encouraging two-way tourist exchanges, in a consistent mannerwith the Memorandum signed among the Vietnam National Administration ofTourism, the Japan Tourism Agency and the Japan National Tourism Organization(JNTO).
34.Both leaders highly valued the recent developments in the cooperation amongtheir localities as an effective channel for substantive cooperation thatfurther deepened bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmedthat he would encourage Japanese localities to establish and enhancecomprehensive cooperation with Vietnamese localities, thereby promotinginvestment and technological transfer from Japanese localities to Vietnam.
Towardsthe 45th anniversary of the Vietnam–Japan diplomatic relations
35.Both leaders confirmed that they would coordinate closely to successfullyorganize activities commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japandiplomatic relations, and further strengthen people-to-people exchanges such asJENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) and“SAKURA Science Plan (Japan- Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science)” in orderto promote mutual trust and understanding between the people of the twocountries and lay a solid foundation to further promote future friendship andcooperation.
Strengthencooperation at international and regional forums
36.Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stepping up their extensivecollaboration and cooperation at regional and international forums such as theUN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM) and other regional mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS),ASEAN 3 (APT), ASEAN-JAPAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN DefenseMinisters’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ), the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF),among others, in order to make active and constructive contribution to themaintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region andthe world.
37.With the establishment of the ASEAN Community, both leaders expressed theirdetermination to strengthen cooperation to enhance the connectivity of ASEAN, amassive market of 600 million consumers, and reduce the development gap withinASEAN through Japan's continuing support of the implementation of the 3rd Phaseof the Work Plan of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and the MasterPlan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and through relevant initiativesincluding Quality Infrastructure Investment.
38.Both leaders sent their congratulations on the occasion of the 50th Anniversaryof ASEAN. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmed Japan's strong assistance toenhance ASEAN’s centrality, unity and solidarity. Both leaders shared the viewthat Japan and ASEAN will work together to reinforce ASEAN's integrity aspartners sharing fundamental values, expressed through the rule of law, and tomaintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
39.Both leaders noted with satisfaction the positive outcomes in the relations andcooperation between Japan and the Mekong countries across multiple fields suchas politics, economy, development cooperation, contributing to the maintenanceof peace, stability and prosperity of the region. They reaffirmed the intentionto further advance the Mekong-Japan cooperation in areas such as development ofquality infrastructure, human resources, climate change response, and waterresource management. They shared the view to further promote the Japan-MekongConnectivity Initiative and the Mekong Industrial Development Vision to promoterobust and effective connectivity in the region. They also reconfirmed theutmost importance of sustainably developing and managing the Mekong River, andof close cooperation between the Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanism andregional and international organizations, particularly, the Mekong RiverCommission (MRC).
40.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed his commitment to supporting Vietnamcomprehensively for the successful hosting of the 2017 APEC Year. Both leaderswill collaborate in creating new dynamism in such areas as deepening regionaleconomic integration, fostering sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth,enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture, and strengthening Micro,Small & Medium Enterprise’s (MSME) competitiveness and innovation, humanresources development in the digital age, supporting industries.
41.Against the backdrop of mounting anti-globalization and protectionism in theworld, both leaders reiterated the matters relating to free trade andprotectionism as stated in the G7 Leaders’ Communiqué in May 2017 and the 2016APEC Leaders’ Declaration and reaffirmed that free and fair trade andinvestment are an important driver for the global economy and decided to worktogether in promoting open and free trade and investment. They are determinedto promote discussion on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)with the aim to promptly reach a modern, comprehensive, high-quality andmutually beneficial agreement under ASEAN leadership. They recognized thatRCEP’s market access commitments, rules, and cooperation will deepen regionaleconomic integration and promote supply chain growth. They reaffirmed thebalanced outcome and the strategic and economic importance of Trans PacificPartnership (TPP), not only to its members but also to the Asia-Pacific. Onthat basis, both leaders shared the view to cooperate in the discussion amongTPP members to bring the comprehensive, high-quality Agreement into forceexpeditiously.
42.Both leaders shared the view that maintaining peace, stability and cooperationin the South China Sea plays an important role to regional and global peace,stability and prosperity. Both leaders expressed deep concern over the complexdevelopments that have been taking place in the South China Sea. Both leadersurged the parties concerned to refrain from taking unilateral actions,including militarization, that change the status quo and further complicate orexpand disputes in the South China Sea, stressed the importance of maintainingpeace, maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight,self-restraint, and full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, settlingall disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),and full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and promptly concludingan effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).
43.As the maritime countries facing vast oceans, both leaders stressed theircommitment to promoting the freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpededcommerce, emphasizing that maintaining and strengthening a free and openmaritime order based on the rule of law is a cornerstone of the strategicinterests for the stability and prosperity of both countries and theinternational community as a whole. They underlined the importance of ensuringa stable, free and open, rules-based order across the Indo-Pacific region andbeyond. In this regard, Prime MinisterShinzo Abe expressed Japan’s intention to further promote bilateral cooperationto enhance connectivity of ASEAN and the region through relevant initiativesincluding the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and Quality InfrastructureInvestment. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also expressed his intention tocontribute even more proactively in securing peace, stability and prosperity ofthe region and the international community under its policy of “ProactiveContribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation,including “Legislation for Peace and Security”. In this context, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed Japan’s active contribution to peace and developmentin the region and the world as well as constructive initiatives, legislationsand policies that aim at securing economic prosperity, maritime freedom andsafety in compliance with the UN Charter and international law, and on thebasis of respect for national independence and sovereignty, for peace,stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
44.Both leaders expressed serious concern about the recent complex developments onthe Korean Peninsula, including the nuclear tests and missile launches by theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Both leaders reiterated thepositions expressed in the relevant UNSC resolutions and ASEAN Statements, andunderlined the need to refrain from actions which might escalate tension, andto fully and seriously comply with the obligations under relevant UNSCresolutions, including Resolution 2356, and the commitments in the 2005 JointStatement of the Six-Party Talks towards denuclearization of the KoreanPeninsula. They supported peace and stability in and denuclearization of theKorean Peninsula. They opposed the acts of abductions, and shared the intentionto enhance cooperation in order to immediately resolve the abductions issue -an issue of humanitarian concern for the international community.
45.Both leaders shared the intention to promote cooperation for internationalpeace and security, and reaffirmed the importance of UNSC reform to make theorganization more in line with the reality of the international community inthe 21st century and to strengthen its legitimacy, effectiveness,representativeness and transparency. Accordingly, they shared the intention toactively cooperate towards early reform through efforts to reach concreteprogress in the Intergovernmental Negotiations. They also reached a decision topromote cooperation at international forums and organizations and to positivelyconsider supporting each other at elections of international organizations.Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc once again expressed his commitment to continuesupporting Japan to become an UNSC permanent member.
46.Both leaders underlined the importance of the sustainable use of marine livingresources including cetaceans. The Vietnamese side informed that it wasactively considering and proceeding with necessary procedures towards earlyjoining the International Whaling Commission (IWC).”-VNA
The following is the full text of the joint statement which was issued during PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Japan from June 4-8.
“At the invitation of Prime Minister of Japan H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, PrimeMinister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid anofficial visit to Japan. During the visit from 4 to 8 June 2017, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc was received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor andthe Empress of Japan, held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, andhad meetings with other Japanese political and economic figures, attended andaddressed at the Vietnam Investment Conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also visited some prefectures of the Kansairegion of Japan.
The development of Vietnam – Japan relations
1. Both sides noted with satisfaction therobust, comprehensive and substantive growth of the Vietnam-Japan relationshipin all areas since its upgrade to the “Extensive Strategic Partnership forPeace and Prosperity in Asia” in 2014. Mutual visits and contacts by high-levelleaders of both countries have taken place on a regular basis, contributing tostrengthening mutual political trust. Bilateral economic, trade and investmentties have expanded significantly, helping to promote the connectivity betweenthe two economies. Cooperation in the areas of defense and security,agriculture, science and technology, education and training, environment,climate change response, labor, construction, information, health, culture,tourism, sports and province-to-province and people-to-people exchanges haveseen substantive progress.
2. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe highly valued theachievements in socio-economic development of Vietnam thanks to theimplementation of the reform (Doi Moi) policy during the past 30 years as wellas Vietnam’s efforts for promoting economic restructuring and growth modeltransformation to step up national industrialization and modernization atpresent. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly valued achievements in theimplementation of the Abenomics for Japan’s economy, and expressed his beliefthat the Japanese economic growth will firmly contribute to the regional andglobal economic development.
3. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressedhis gratitude to Japan, the largest donor providing Official DevelopmentAssistance (ODA), for the effective assistance to Vietnam's sustainable socialand economic development, and poverty reduction. He also highly valued theactive role and contribution by Japanese companies to the economic developmentand national construction in Vietnam. Both leaders shared the intention tocooperate in resolving the bottlenecks which hinder smooth implementation ofJapan’s ODA projects.
4.Both leaders emphasized that Vietnam and Japan are important partners to eachother with shared strategic interests. They confirmed that the two countriesare presented with favorable conditions to further deepen the Vietnam-Japanextensive strategic partnership. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reiteratedthat Japan continued to be a top and long-term partner of Vietnam, and hopedthat Japan would continue to play an active and constructive role ininternational and regional issues. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe highly appreciatedVietnam's increasingly important and active role in international and regionalissues, and reaffirmed the importance Japan attaches to Vietnam in its foreignpolicy in the Asia-Pacific.
5.Both leaders reaffirmed their determination to foster the Vietnam-Japanrelationship in a comprehensive and extensive manner by further enhancingpolitical trust, improving the cooperation mechanisms, promoting economicconnectivity, strengthening human resources development cooperation, andcooperating closely on regional and international issues. Both leaders sharedthe intention to maintain regular exchange of visits and contacts betweenhigh-level leaders, political parties and parliaments, including atmultilateral forums.
During the visit, both sides signed manycooperation frameworks between their ministries, agencies, local authoritiesand businesses.
Political, Defense and Security Relations
6. Both leaders shared the desire tostrengthen cooperation in defense and security areas, to maintain and enhancethe effectiveness of dialogue mechanisms, and to promote the exchange ofdelegations at various levels. They shared the intention to enhance cooperationin building capacity in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well asin participating in the United Nations Peacekeeping operations, and to promotecooperation in defense equipment and technology, in information technology andin human resources development, as appropriate. Both leaders will continue toconsider the possibilities of cooperation in the Vietnamese efforts inovercoming the damage caused by the war through removing landmines andunexploded ordinances and dioxin upon concrete requests by the Vietnamese side.
7. Both leaders confirmed the intention toenhance cooperation in responding to non-traditional security issues, includingcyber-security, and in countering cyber-crimes, international terrorism andtransnational crimes.
8. Both leaders highlighted the commitment tostrengthen maritime security and safety cooperation such as search and rescueand anti-piracy measures, including through information exchange between coastguard agencies of both countries and cooperation under the Regional CooperationAgreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP)framework. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to assist Vietnam in strengtheningmaritime law enforcement capability, including human resource development.Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated Japan’s assistance toenhance maritime law enforcement capability, including the provisions by Japanof used vessels and new patrol vessels and defense capacity buildingassistance, and welcomed vessels of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force andthe patrol ships of the Japan Coast Guard to visit Vietnam in accordance withthe Vietnamese law.
9.Both sides shared the view on the importance of arms export control to counterthe proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Economic,trade, investment and energy cooperation
10.Both leaders shared the intention to closely collaborate in strengtheningconnectivity between the two economies as stated in the 2015 “Joint VisionStatement on Vietnam-Japan Relations" with focus on linking their economicdevelopment strategies, production capacity and human resources on the mutuallycomplimentary, mutually reinforcing and mutually beneficial basis.
11.Both leaders shared the intention to maintain their close collaboration to makemaximum use of the existing dialogue mechanisms such as the Vietnam-JapanCooperation Committee, the Vietnam-Japan Joint Committee on Industrial, Tradeand Energy Cooperation and the Japan-Vietnam Agricultural Cooperation Dialogue,as well as other ongoing dialogue mechanisms in ODA, investment, labor, scienceand technology, justice, environment, construction, among others. They highlyvalued the outcomes of the Vietnam Investment Conference on 5th June 2017.
12.Both leaders shared the intention to promote their bilateral trade cooperation,striving to realize the goal of doubling two-way trade and investment from 2014till 2020.
13.Noting that Vietnam’s economic development is very important for the region,Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his continued and strong support to Vietnam'ssustainable economic growth through cooperation in quality infrastructure development,energy, climate change response and human resources development. Both sideswitnessed with delight the signing of the exchange of Notes of yen loanprojects worth ¥100.3 billion pledged by Japan in fiscal year 2016 for fourprojects in Vietnam, namely the Maritime Security and Safety CapacityImprovement Project, the Ben Tre Water Management Project, the Bien Hoa CityDrainage and Wastewater Treatment Systems Project (Stage 1), the Hoa LacScience and Technology City Development Project (phase II), and three grantassistance projects in the fields of disaster prevention and human resourcesdevelopment, as well as and the loan Agreement for the Hoa Lac Science andTechnology City Development Project.
14.Both leaders shared the view that Japan would provide support to expeditinghigh quality, large scale and critical national infrastructure projects,including the North-South expressway and the metro railway. They confirmed thatboth sides continue to cooperate in implementing the Hoa Lac Science andTechnology City Development project. Both sides would continue the discussionon the expressway project connecting Hanoi (Vietnam) and Vientiane (Laos). TheVietnamese side welcomed Japanese companies’ wish to participate in the LongThanh airport project, the underground arcade in Ben Thanh and the BRT bussystem in Binh Duong province.
15.Both leaders confirmed their willingness to make efforts to facilitateprocedures to allow exportations of Japanese citrus fruit into Vietnam andVietnamese lychee, longan fruit into Japan and to proceed cooperation inprotection of geographical indications.
16.The Japanese side confirmed its support for Vietnam in implementing plans ofthe six selected industries in Vietnam's Industrialization Strategy as outlinedin the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Framework until 2020 with vision to 2030, in amutually beneficial manner, as well as organizing a working group for theeffective implementation of the Strategy and that Japan would consider trainingadvanced engineers for the six industries in the Industrialization Strategy.They confirmed to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, including theconstruction of high-efficient and environmentally compliant coal-fired powerplants as well as the application of new liquefied natural gas technology. Bothleaders will also make efforts to promote negotiations towards promptcommencement of commercial operation of three BOT projects of coal-fired powerplants. Both leaders will intensify cooperation on energy saving and power griddevelopment.
17.The Vietnamese side will consider and realize concrete and strong measuresconsistent with the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements for the purposeof sustaining and expanding domestic production of Complete Build Units (CBUs)as first priority. Both sides will establish a working group and developconcrete measures incorporated in an action plan by the end of this year. TheJapanese side confirmed its support for Vietnam’s automobile and supportingindustries.
18.Both leaders shared the intention to coordinate closely to improve theinvestment environment in Vietnam through the implementation of the 6th phaseof the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative on improving the investment climate andlegal system, strengthening the governance and restructuring of VietnameseState-Owned Enterprises with ensuring the information disclosure by companies.Both leaders expressed their wish to promote more investment from Japanesecompanies into Vietnam and to promote public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
19.The Vietnamese side confirmed that Japan is one of the cooperation partners inthe field of peaceful use of atomic energy.
Agriculture,environment, climate change response, science and technology, education andtraining, justice, information and communications technology and construction
20.Both leaders decided to promote cooperation for comprehensive development ofthe agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors in Vietnam, to continue workingclosely to implement the "Japan-Vietnam Medium-Long Term Vision onAgricultural Cooperation", and organize the 4th Japan-Vietnam AgriculturalCooperation Dialogue as a high-level meeting in 2017, and to consider mutuallybeneficial cooperation such as Japanese investment into clean and high-techagriculture in Vietnam.
21.Both leaders welcomed the renewal of the Memorandum of Cooperation on LowCarbon Growth for the Joint Crediting Mechanism for the period from 2016 to2020. They shared the intention to maintain close collaboration in theenvironment, climate change responses, hydro-meteorology and natural resources,the environment and marine biodiversity research and surveillance. They alsoshared the intention to facilitate cooperation in waste management, includingwaste-to-energy, building on the achievement of cooperation in developing wastemanagement laws and regulations. The Japanese side is committed to supporting Vietnamin dealing with climate change, drought and saline intrusion, working with Vietnamto find long-term and fundamental solutions and considering utilizing ODA inthis regard.
22.Both leaders shared the view to further promote collaborative activities insuch research fields as space and healthcare, including infectious diseases.
23. Both leaders shared the intention to promotecooperation in the field of information and communications technology,especially cooperation in telecommunication and its cyber-security, frequencyand postal services by utilizing such schemes as Joint Working Groups.Acknowledging the importance of the wireless information transmission systemfor aeronautical and maritime transport safety, both leaders will promote thestudy of possibility of cooperation in establishing the High Frequency RadioMonitoring System.
24.Both leaders shared the intention to promote cooperation on human resourcesdevelopment under the Industrial Human Resources Development Initiative as wellas by utilizing the Japan-Vietnam University and “Innovative Asia.” As for Vietnam’sefforts for administrative structure reform and training of future leaders, theJapanese side stands ready to provide training opportunities for more than 800officials for the next five years through master’s and doctoral courses atJapanese universities and short- and medium-term courses in Japan and Vietnam.
25. Both leaders shared the intention tocooperate to enhance Japanese-language education and expand the Japaneseeducation model, and to promote inter-university exchanges between the twocountries.
26.Both leaders welcomed the newly-opened Japan Student Services Organization(JASSO) office in Hanoi and will promote cooperation on student exchanges anddistribution of information on studying in Japan. Both leaders will alsocooperate in setting up KOSEN (NIT) office in Hanoi which will contribute tothe improvement of quality of vocational education in Vietnam.
27.Both leaders welcomed the active participation of Vietnamese Technical InternTrainees in Japan and the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation on theTechnical Intern Training Program, and confirmed the intention to properlyimplement the Technical Intern Training Program to transfer technical skillsfrom Japan to Vietnam, in accordance with the new Act on Proper TechnicalIntern Training and Protection of Technical Trainees that will come into forcein November 2017. Both leaders will also work closely to promote cooperationfor the appropriate implementation of technical intern training and to holdperiodical working level meetings to address various issues surrounding theTechnical Intern Training Program.
28.Both leaders welcomed a steady progress of dispatching and accepting Vietnamesecandidates for nurses and certified care workers to Japan based on the EconomicPartnership Agreement between the two countries, and will cooperate for itssmooth and appropriate implementation.
29.Both leaders shared the intention to continue legal and judicial cooperation byeffective implementation of the existing programs and projects, and toproactively study the possibility of bilateral agreements on mutual legalassistance on criminal matters and on transfer of sentenced persons.
30.Both sides shared the intention to strengthen comprehensive cooperation inurban development, especially effective implementation of eco-cities, smartcities, and Transit-oriented Development (TOD) integrated cities in line withJapan’s models, to promote investment cooperation in urban renovation anddevelopment and to transfer technologies in water, sewage and solid wastetreatment.
Cooperationin culture, sports, tourism, people-to-people exchange and exchange betweenlocalities
31.Both sides shared the intention to work closely to step up their culturalcooperation and people-to-people exchange, to further cultural exchangesthrough the co-organization of exchange activities to promote each country'speople, culture, and arts, and to promote mutual understanding of each other’sculture, tradition and history. Both sides also shared their desire to continuecooperation and exchanges between them according to WA Project as well asJapanese language education.
32.Both leaders welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on sportscooperation to strengthen the cooperation towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic andParalympic Games within the framework of the “Sport for Tomorrow” program.
33.Both leaders shared the view that tourism cooperation in such areas as inenhancing destination marketing initiatives of each country, providingtechnical assistance and developing workforce skills should be promoted with aview to further encouraging two-way tourist exchanges, in a consistent mannerwith the Memorandum signed among the Vietnam National Administration ofTourism, the Japan Tourism Agency and the Japan National Tourism Organization(JNTO).
34.Both leaders highly valued the recent developments in the cooperation amongtheir localities as an effective channel for substantive cooperation thatfurther deepened bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmedthat he would encourage Japanese localities to establish and enhancecomprehensive cooperation with Vietnamese localities, thereby promotinginvestment and technological transfer from Japanese localities to Vietnam.
Towardsthe 45th anniversary of the Vietnam–Japan diplomatic relations
35.Both leaders confirmed that they would coordinate closely to successfullyorganize activities commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japandiplomatic relations, and further strengthen people-to-people exchanges such asJENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) and“SAKURA Science Plan (Japan- Asia Youth Exchange Program in Science)” in orderto promote mutual trust and understanding between the people of the twocountries and lay a solid foundation to further promote future friendship andcooperation.
Strengthencooperation at international and regional forums
36.Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to stepping up their extensivecollaboration and cooperation at regional and international forums such as theUN, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM) and other regional mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit (EAS),ASEAN 3 (APT), ASEAN-JAPAN, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), ASEAN DefenseMinisters’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ), the Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF),among others, in order to make active and constructive contribution to themaintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region andthe world.
37.With the establishment of the ASEAN Community, both leaders expressed theirdetermination to strengthen cooperation to enhance the connectivity of ASEAN, amassive market of 600 million consumers, and reduce the development gap withinASEAN through Japan's continuing support of the implementation of the 3rd Phaseof the Work Plan of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and the MasterPlan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 and through relevant initiativesincluding Quality Infrastructure Investment.
38.Both leaders sent their congratulations on the occasion of the 50th Anniversaryof ASEAN. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reaffirmed Japan's strong assistance toenhance ASEAN’s centrality, unity and solidarity. Both leaders shared the viewthat Japan and ASEAN will work together to reinforce ASEAN's integrity aspartners sharing fundamental values, expressed through the rule of law, and tomaintain peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
39.Both leaders noted with satisfaction the positive outcomes in the relations andcooperation between Japan and the Mekong countries across multiple fields suchas politics, economy, development cooperation, contributing to the maintenanceof peace, stability and prosperity of the region. They reaffirmed the intentionto further advance the Mekong-Japan cooperation in areas such as development ofquality infrastructure, human resources, climate change response, and waterresource management. They shared the view to further promote the Japan-MekongConnectivity Initiative and the Mekong Industrial Development Vision to promoterobust and effective connectivity in the region. They also reconfirmed theutmost importance of sustainably developing and managing the Mekong River, andof close cooperation between the Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanism andregional and international organizations, particularly, the Mekong RiverCommission (MRC).
40.Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed his commitment to supporting Vietnamcomprehensively for the successful hosting of the 2017 APEC Year. Both leaderswill collaborate in creating new dynamism in such areas as deepening regionaleconomic integration, fostering sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth,enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture, and strengthening Micro,Small & Medium Enterprise’s (MSME) competitiveness and innovation, humanresources development in the digital age, supporting industries.
41.Against the backdrop of mounting anti-globalization and protectionism in theworld, both leaders reiterated the matters relating to free trade andprotectionism as stated in the G7 Leaders’ Communiqué in May 2017 and the 2016APEC Leaders’ Declaration and reaffirmed that free and fair trade andinvestment are an important driver for the global economy and decided to worktogether in promoting open and free trade and investment. They are determinedto promote discussion on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)with the aim to promptly reach a modern, comprehensive, high-quality andmutually beneficial agreement under ASEAN leadership. They recognized thatRCEP’s market access commitments, rules, and cooperation will deepen regionaleconomic integration and promote supply chain growth. They reaffirmed thebalanced outcome and the strategic and economic importance of Trans PacificPartnership (TPP), not only to its members but also to the Asia-Pacific. Onthat basis, both leaders shared the view to cooperate in the discussion amongTPP members to bring the comprehensive, high-quality Agreement into forceexpeditiously.
42.Both leaders shared the view that maintaining peace, stability and cooperationin the South China Sea plays an important role to regional and global peace,stability and prosperity. Both leaders expressed deep concern over the complexdevelopments that have been taking place in the South China Sea. Both leadersurged the parties concerned to refrain from taking unilateral actions,including militarization, that change the status quo and further complicate orexpand disputes in the South China Sea, stressed the importance of maintainingpeace, maritime security and safety, freedom of navigation and overflight,self-restraint, and full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, settlingall disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law,including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),and full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct ofParties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and promptly concludingan effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).
43.As the maritime countries facing vast oceans, both leaders stressed theircommitment to promoting the freedom of navigation and overflight and unimpededcommerce, emphasizing that maintaining and strengthening a free and openmaritime order based on the rule of law is a cornerstone of the strategicinterests for the stability and prosperity of both countries and theinternational community as a whole. They underlined the importance of ensuringa stable, free and open, rules-based order across the Indo-Pacific region andbeyond. In this regard, Prime MinisterShinzo Abe expressed Japan’s intention to further promote bilateral cooperationto enhance connectivity of ASEAN and the region through relevant initiativesincluding the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy and Quality InfrastructureInvestment. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also expressed his intention tocontribute even more proactively in securing peace, stability and prosperity ofthe region and the international community under its policy of “ProactiveContribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation,including “Legislation for Peace and Security”. In this context, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed Japan’s active contribution to peace and developmentin the region and the world as well as constructive initiatives, legislationsand policies that aim at securing economic prosperity, maritime freedom andsafety in compliance with the UN Charter and international law, and on thebasis of respect for national independence and sovereignty, for peace,stability, cooperation and development of the region and the world.
44.Both leaders expressed serious concern about the recent complex developments onthe Korean Peninsula, including the nuclear tests and missile launches by theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Both leaders reiterated thepositions expressed in the relevant UNSC resolutions and ASEAN Statements, andunderlined the need to refrain from actions which might escalate tension, andto fully and seriously comply with the obligations under relevant UNSCresolutions, including Resolution 2356, and the commitments in the 2005 JointStatement of the Six-Party Talks towards denuclearization of the KoreanPeninsula. They supported peace and stability in and denuclearization of theKorean Peninsula. They opposed the acts of abductions, and shared the intentionto enhance cooperation in order to immediately resolve the abductions issue -an issue of humanitarian concern for the international community.
45.Both leaders shared the intention to promote cooperation for internationalpeace and security, and reaffirmed the importance of UNSC reform to make theorganization more in line with the reality of the international community inthe 21st century and to strengthen its legitimacy, effectiveness,representativeness and transparency. Accordingly, they shared the intention toactively cooperate towards early reform through efforts to reach concreteprogress in the Intergovernmental Negotiations. They also reached a decision topromote cooperation at international forums and organizations and to positivelyconsider supporting each other at elections of international organizations.Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc once again expressed his commitment to continuesupporting Japan to become an UNSC permanent member.
46.Both leaders underlined the importance of the sustainable use of marine livingresources including cetaceans. The Vietnamese side informed that it wasactively considering and proceeding with necessary procedures towards earlyjoining the International Whaling Commission (IWC).”-VNA
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