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[Provisional Translation]

On January 16 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Hanoi in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
After attending the welcome ceremony, the Prime Minister held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and then held a signing ceremony and joint press announcement. After that, the Prime Minister held meetings, respectively, with H.E. Dr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam; H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam; and H.E. Mdm. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairwoman of National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and then held a press conference.
Finally, the Prime Minister attended a welcome dinner hosted by Viet Nam.

At the welcome dinner, the Prime Minister said,
“Prime Minister and Mrs. Phuc, ladies and gentleman, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister and Mrs. Phuc for hosting this grand banquet.

I am delighted to be visiting beautiful Viet Nam again after my visit two years ago. During that time, our bilateral relationship has developed in many fields.

Exchanges between the people and the companies of our two countries are highly significant for further deepening this extremely friendly relationship. On this visit, I am accompanied by representatives of some of Japan’s top business leaders. Having seen Viet Nam’s vitality, they are all very eager to develop their companies together with Viet Nam.

I am sure that, through the business meeting tomorrow, Japan’s exchanges with Viet Nam, which is growing dynamically, will expand, and that there will be even greater Japanese investment in Viet Nam.

Moreover, today I am accompanied by Ambassador Ryotaro Sugi, who serves as Goodwill Ambassador between Viet Nam and Japan. Ambassador Sugi has significantly contributed to our bilateral exchanges and development for almost 30 years. Since the year before last, he has been producing a program on Vietnam Television showcasing Japan.

In preparation for the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam in 2018, working together with Ambassador Sugi, who is well-versed in the power of culture, I would like to advance bilateral cultural exchanges, such as through the holding of Japan festivals in various parts of Viet Nam, including Hoi An, where Prime Minister Phuc is from, and through television programs.

Furthermore, I would like to express my congratulations on Viet Nam winning its first-ever Olympic and Paralympic gold medals, specifically in the Olympic men’s shooting event and the Paralympic men’s weight-lifting event in Rio de Janeiro last year.

I have been told that Prime Minister Phuc is an ardent follower of badminton. At the Rio 2016 Closing Ceremony, I transformed into Abe Mario, and built up momentum towards the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. In the same way, I would like to steadily build up the sports exchanges between our two countries.

This year the APEC meetings will be held in Viet Nam, as they were in 2006, 11 years ago. I attended those previous APEC meetings as Prime Minister, and this year, 11 years later, I will once again take part in the APEC meetings in Viet Nam as Prime Minister. This is a very rare opportunity for a Prime Minister of Japan, and I am delighted that I am able to attend two series of APEC meetings being hosted by Viet Nam.

In spring, the start of the Lunar New Year, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan will visit Viet Nam. I have heard that visitors early in the year are warmly welcomed in Viet Nam, and I am sure that this visit will further enhance our close bilateral friendship.

Finally, I would like to raise a toast to the health and success of Prime Minister and Mrs. Phuc, and of everyone in attendance here this evening, to the greater prosperity of Viet Nam, and to the further development of the relationship between Japan and Viet Nam.”