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On May 31, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting and other events with H.E. Mr. Tran Dai Quang, President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, at the Prime Minister's Office.
 
The two leaders held a summit meeting, followed by a signing ceremony, an exchange of documents ceremony, and a joint press announcement.
 
Lastly, the Prime Minister hosted a banquet and said in his address,
 
“I would like to offer my heartfelt welcome to President Quang and his wife, Madam Nguyen Thi Hien, on their state visit to Japan. I am extremely pleased to welcome you both to Japan during the 45th anniversary of Japan-Viet Nam diplomatic relations.
 
The friendly relationship between Japan and Viet Nam is stronger than ever before, thanks to the visit to Viet Nam by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan last spring, and this visit to Japan by President Quang and Madam Hien.
 
Our countries share a long, 400-year history together. When I visited Viet Nam for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting last November, I visited Hoi An Ancient Town, which had vibrant exchanges with Japan. Witnessing the historical vestiges from when it was home to many Japanese people, seeing a restoration of a ‘Shuinsen’ (shogunate licensed trading ship), and watching a Nagasaki Kunchi festival procession, which illustrated the exchanges between Japan and Viet Nam at that time, I truly felt the history of exchanges between our countries. I felt firsthand the traces of the many Japanese people that lived there in the past.
 
Today, the Vietnamese dish of pho is very popular in Japan. In addition to the many Vietnamese restaurants open throughout our country, instant pho is also being sold in neighborhood supermarkets. Person-to-person exchanges between our two countries have expanded greatly, supported by such feelings of affinity. Last year, approximately 800,000 Japanese visited Viet Nam, and approximately 300,000 Vietnamese visited Japan. More than 260,000 Vietnamese currently live in Japan. Among them are many who are making use of their advanced skills and experience and are active in Japanese society, including Mr. Buu Le Binh at KOGANEI SEIKI, and Ms. Tranh Thi Thu Phuong of Sojitz Corporation. I hope that we can deepen even further our relationship such that we support each other.
 
It is almost time for FIFA World Cup Russia. For the first time ever, Viet Nam finished second in the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship held in January. I have high hopes for Viet Nam’s showing in the Tokyo Olympic Games two years from now, and I also hope that Japan and Viet Nam can both make it to the next World Cup four years from now.
 
We have invited leading figures from across the country to today’s banquet, all of whom are supporting our indispensable friendship in a variety of fields such as politics, the economy, culture, and sports, including an old friend of President Quan, Mr. Ryotaro Sugi, Special Ambassador for Japan-Viet Nam Relations. It is thanks to all your efforts that Japan and Viet Nam share such excellent relations today. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all and ask for your continued cooperation and contribution to the further development of Japan-Viet Nam relations.
 
I now wish to offer a toast to the good health of President Quang, Madam Hien, and all the distinguished guests here tonight, as well as to the further prosperity of Viet Nam and the continued development of the Japan-Viet Nam relationship. Chuc suc khoe! Cheers!”