Friday, May 22, 2009

Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting

Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks with His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who is visiting Japan, at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the beginning, Prime Minister Aso stated that Prime Minister Dung's visit to Japan was extremely important in developing the strategic partnership between the two countries. In response, Prime Minister Dung stated that he was gratified to see friendly Japan-Viet Nam relations developing in recent years, and expressed his wish to construct long-term, comprehensive cooperative relations between the two countries for the peace and stability of the region, a common interest for both countries.

Prime Minister Aso explained that Japan had announced assistance on a scale of 2 trillion yen to Asian countries. To this, Prime Minister Dung requested Japan's continued assistance to curb the impacts of the global economic and financial crisis. Prime Minister Dung also requested Japan's cooperation for projects which would contribute to the economic development of Viet Nam, to which Prime Minister Aso stated that Japan intended to continue to make responses in an earnest manner.

Prime Minister Dung called for Japan's early ratification of an economic partnership agreement (EPA) between Japan and Viet Nam. In response, Prime Minister Aso stated that he hoped to obtain Diet approval as soon as possible for an entry into force of the EPA.

The leaders also discussed matters such as the stabilization of the Korean Peninsula and the holding of a Japan-Mekong summit meeting.

Related Link

• Japan-Viet Nam Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)