Vietnam and Japan should strengthen their extensive strategic partnership in the new context, especially in the post COVID-19 period, a senior Vietnamese official told newly accredited Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio in Hanoi on July 8.

Politburo member Tran Quoc Vuong (R) pushes for stronger Vietnam-Japan
relations despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (Photo: VNA) 

At the reception, Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong proposed that the Japanese diplomat work hard to promote political trust, defence-security partnership, as well as economic, investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.

He called on the two countries to work closely to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including supporting the overseas Vietnamese community in Japan.

Vuong expressed his hope that the ambassador will contribute to fostering relations between the CPV and Japanese political parties to lay a firm political foundation for enhancing bilateral ties in other areas.

He extended his sympathy with Japanese authorities and people over the recent widespread torrential rains in the Kyushu region which led to floods and landslides and caused heavy human and economic losses.

For his part, ambassador Takio affirmed that Japan attaches great importance to strengthening the extensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, as well as Vietnam’s role and position in the region and the world.

Takio noted that Japan considers Vietnam one of the most favourable investment destinations in the region, and that many major Japanese firms have shown their interest in Vietnam.

He expressed hope there will be a new wave of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Japan to Vietnam in the time to come.

The ambassador vowed to do his utmost during his new working term in Vietnam to strengthen the comprehensive relations between Japan and Vietnam.