Deepening Vietnam-Japan relations and comprehensive cooperation

The official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori demonstrates the determination to deepen the bilateral relationship and comprehensive cooperation; and is an active step to concretize the content of the relationship "Extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" on the parliamentary diplomatic channel of the two countries.

Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Oshima Tadamori. Photo Quochoi.vn

On May 4, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Oshima Tadamori and his wife began an official visit to Vietnam from May 4-6 at the invitation of Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Participating in the delegation of the House of Representatives of Japan, Ohshima Tadamori, were: Ms. Oshima Setsu, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives; Mr. Nimi Jun, Director of the International Department, House of Representatives; Mr. Yoshida Sakito, Head of the Secretariat, House of Representatives; Mr. Nakai Kengo, Secretary of the Speaker, House of Representatives; Ms. Sueoka Akiko, Deputy Head of the Foreign Affairs Department, International Department, House of Representatives; Ms. Sakasita Miho, Specialist of the Secretariat, House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Ohshima Tadamori was born in 1946 in Aomori Prefecture. In April 1975, he was elected to the Aomori Prefectural Assembly; in December 1983, he was elected to the House of Representatives. In February 1990, he was Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. In August 1995, he was Director of the Environment Bureau. In October 1999, he was Chairman of the House of Representatives Executive Committee. In July 2000, he held the position of Minister of Culture and Director of the Science and Technology Bureau. In December 2000, he was Chairman of the National Diet Policy Committee, Liberal Democratic Party. In September 2002, he held the position of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In November 2005, he was Chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee; in August 2007, he was Chairman of the National Diet Policy Committee, Liberal Democratic Party. In September 2009, he was Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party; in September 2010, he was Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party. In September 2014, he was Chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee. Since April 2015, Mr. Ohshima Tadamori has been Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan.

Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973. Over the past 40 years, the relationship between the two countries has been continuously strengthened and developed. The relationship between the two countries is considered to be at its best stage, with high political trust.

Japan was the first G7 country to welcome a Vietnamese General Secretary in 1995, established a strategic partnership with Vietnam in 2009 and recognized Vietnam's market economy status in 2011.

Japan is currently one of Vietnam's leading strategic and economic partners, the largest ODA donor to Vietnam, the second largest investor in Vietnam, and the fourth largest trade partner of Vietnam with two-way trade turnover reaching more than 28.5 billion USD.

Along with good political relations, in recent years, the parliamentary diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan have been continuously strengthened and developed well.

The two sides regularly exchange high-level delegations as well as delegations at the specialized committee level and delegations between the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance to exchange and share legislative experiences; contributing to strengthening the extensive cooperation between the two countries and the two National Assemblies.

At international and regional multilateral inter-parliamentary forums, the Vietnamese and Japanese National Assembly delegations have similar views and opinions on building and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development in the Asia-Pacific region and regularly support each other in their views on handling relevant regional issues. The leaders of the other side affirmed that parliamentary cooperation between the two sides is very important in the overall bilateral relationship.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973, this is the second time the head of the Japanese House of Representatives has visited Vietnam, 15 years after Speaker Watanuki visited Vietnam in 2002; and the third consecutive high-level visit in the first half of 2017, following the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister and his wife in early January 2017, and the visit of the King and Queen in March 2017.

Vice Chairwoman of the 13th National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held talks with Vice President of the Japanese House of Councillors in December 2015. Photo Quochoi.vn

The visit also follows high-level visits between the two countries' parliaments in recent times, such as the official visit to Vietnam by President of the House of Councillors of Japan Yamazaki Masaaki in December 2015; Vice President of the House of Councillors of Japan Koshiishi Azuma in December 2015; and the official visit to Japan by Chairman of the 13th National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung in December 2012 and Vice Chairman of the 13th National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in August 2015.

The visit of Speaker of the House of Representatives Oshima Tadamori in response to the invitation of the Chairman of the National Assembly of our country, demonstrates the determination of the two countries' senior leaders to deepen the bilateral relationship and comprehensive cooperation; demonstrates Japan's determination to promote the comprehensive relationship between the two countries in general, and between the two legislative bodies of the two countries in particular; is a positive step to concretize the content of the relationship "Extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia" on the parliamentary diplomatic channel of the two countries.

The Vietnamese National Assembly welcomed the Delegation to continue affirming that the Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to promote cooperation with both Houses of Japan in a comprehensive and effective manner; demonstrating political trust between the two countries' senior leaders and the two National Assemblies; proactively promoting cooperation between the two National Assemblies in line with the Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership; contributing to concretizing the Statement on the Joint Vision of Vietnam-Japan Relations during General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to Japan in September 2015.

According to baochinhphu.vn