(VOVWORLD) - Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday held phone talks with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, during which they agreed to step up cooperation in the COVID-19 fight.
 (Source: VTV) |
PM Suga congratulated Mr. Phuc on his election as President of Vietnam, pledging that Japan will continue with its close cooperation with and assistance to Vietnam in development in the time ahead.
In that spirit, the Japanese government has decided to present a cold storage system for COVID-19 vaccines worth 200 million JPY (1.84 million USD) as non-refundable to Vietnam, he said.
Japan will also provide marine scientific research vessels for Vietnam, and open its Consulate General in the central city of Da Nang in 2022, the PM added.
President Phuc appreciated PM Suga’s selection of Vietnam for his first overseas trip since taking office last October, and expressed his delight at the strong and comprehensive development with high political trust of bilateral ties.
In its foreign policy, Vietnam always considers Japan a strategic, long-term and leading partner, he affirmed.
President Phuc took this occasion to invite the Japanese Emperor and Empress to visit Vietnam.
The President spoke highly of Japan’s effective and practical cooperation in Vietnam’s socio-economic development, including its donated cold vaccine storage equipment. He also called for Japan’s collaboration and support for Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccination and assistance to the Vietnamese community in Japan.
PM Suga said Japan will assist and cooperate with Vietnam to ensure necessary vaccines, and further support Vietnamese apprentices in his country.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.