Japan Times publishes article about General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to Japan

At the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong will pay an official visit to Japan from September 15 to 18, 2015.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

On this occasion, Member of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission Hoang Binh Quan wrote an article titled: "General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit opens up a vision for developing Vietnam-Japan relations," published in the Japan Times newspaper.

Here is the content of the article:

"Trust, mutual understanding; promoting common interests; enhancing cooperation efficiency; striving towards the future - these are characteristics that are easily recognizable when looking back at the development of relations between Vietnam and Japan over the past decades.

The two countries have had diplomatic relations for more than 40 years, but it is necessary to see that the relationship between the two countries actually began quite early. As early as the 16th century, the Japanese chose Vietnam as a destination for trade.

Hoi An coastal town was known as the largest “Japanese town” (Nihon Machi) in Vietnam at that time, becoming the trading center of Japan with Southeast Asia. Currently, this place still retains many strong imprints and many important relics marking the economic and cultural exchange between Vietnam and Japan.

And it must also be said that, like many other international relations, the history of relations between the two countries has had its low points; very regrettable things have happened. But the relationship between the two peoples has moved forward in the spirit of peace, tolerance, "putting the past behind, looking towards the future".

It must be said that the relationship between the two countries has developed remarkably, comprehensively and deeply in recent years. The two sides have built a relationship of trust and are in the best stage of development ever; reaching the framework of “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia” since March 2014.

Japan has become Vietnam's leading economic partner; the largest official development assistance (ODA) donor, the second largest FDI investor and the fourth largest trading partner of Vietnam. Of Vietnam's total ODA capital of 90 billion USD over the past 20 years, Japan contributed up to 30%.

Many large infrastructure and industrial projects in Vietnam bear the mark of the Vietnam-Japan cooperation relationship. It is noteworthy that Japan always respects Vietnam's development policy, shares the awareness of economic growth to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty and aim for sustainable economic growth.

Political trust between the two countries is a bright spot. Despite differences in political regimes and economic models, the two countries always trust, respect and value each other. It is no coincidence that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chose Vietnam as the first country to visit after taking office.

Japan was also the first G7 country to recognize Vietnam's market economy. Twenty years ago, right after the end of the Cold War, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam made his first official visit to Japan. Over the years, the two sides have maintained regular high-level visits and contacts, exchanges through Party and National Assembly channels, and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnam always appreciates Japan's positive contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world over the past decades and supports Japan's worthy role and position, and increasingly active and responsible contributions to peace, cooperation and development in the region.

Vietnam is the country that early affirmed and consistently supported Japan to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council when this agency is expanded.

The roots of trust are cultural similarities, “same culture, same race, same continent”, the bonds of historical ties, the spirit of “sincere cooperation”, the strong vitality of the love between the people of the two countries for each other. We are not simply important partners, but also friends, sharing the ups and downs.

The foundation of the relationship is solid, now the two countries share many common strategic interests, have much potential for cooperation to complement and support each other for sustainable development. Both countries advocate building a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developed Asia-Pacific, and resolving all disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.

Strengthening Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation brings practical benefits to the people of the two countries, in line with the interests of the region and the world.

Political trust, cultural similarities, shared interests, economic connectivity, and human exchanges are the values ​​that define the vision of the two countries' relations.

We expect that the upcoming official visit to Japan by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong will certainly be an important milestone, opening up a new vision, comprehensively promoting and deepening the relationship of "Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" under the motto of "strengthening trust, economic connectivity, expanding cooperation, sustainable development, looking towards the future".

Vietnam-Japan relations will continue to move forward with many good promises.

The visits to the world's leading powers this year by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam also show that Vietnam is actively and consistently implementing its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, multilateralization of relations and deepening foreign relations with major partners.

According to Vietnam plus