(VOVWORLD) - President Tran Dai Quang begins a state visit to Japan on Tuesday. The visit is an important event for both countries to show their determination to elevate the Vietnam-Japan Strategic Partnership to a new level after 45 years of diplomatic relations.
 President Tran Dai Quang in an interview with Japanese media.
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President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Japan from May 29th to June 6th takes place when both the two countries celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The leaders will review the bilateral achievements over the past 45 years and try to raise the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership to a new level.
Vietnam- Japan cooperation prospects
Japan is one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners, its biggest ODA provider, its second biggest FDI investor, its third biggest tourism partner, and its fourth biggest trade partner.
The bilateral partnership is now at its best time since the establishment of diplomatic relations. The two countries have advantages to boost bilateral cooperation: first, a fine relationship built over the past 45 years. Second, the national interest of each country. Vietnam has been comprehensively and systematically pushing ahead with national reform and economic development to become a modern industrial country. In that effort Japan plays an important role. Third, Vietnam and Japan are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is scheduled to take effect in 2019.
The Vietnamese community in Japan has contributed to the bilateral relationship. Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said: “Many associations of Vietnamese people have been established to support each other in life and production to contribute to Vietnam’s development and Vietnam-Japan relations. The Embassy is a venue for Vietnamese people and associations to meet.”
Close cooperation at multi-lateral forums
Vietnam and Japan have backed each other at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Vietnam supported Japan’s becoming a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2016-2017 term and pledged to back Japan as a permanent member of an expanded UN Security Council.
Ambassador Cuong said: “Vietnam and Japan share many strategic interests and similar views on the East Sea issue. We appreciate Japan’s unwavering stance in backing Vietnam’s view that East Sea disputes should be resolved peacefully, without threatening or using armed force, in line with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
President Tran Dai Quang will meet the Japanese Emperor and Empress, hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and meet leaders of the parliament, politicians, economists, scientists, and artists. They will discuss measures to strengthen bilateral relations, political trust, trade and investment cooperation, and culture and people-to-people exchanges. They will exchange views and collaborate at global forums, particularly when Vietnam serves as coordinator of ASEAN-Japan relations from 2018-2021.