The Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee held its 6th session.

Vietnam and Japan have exchanged views on measures to implement the results and agreements reached by high-level leaders of the two countries in the past, especially since the two countries upgraded their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March 2014.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio.

On the morning of August 1st, the 6th session of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee took place in Hanoi, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kishida Fumio.

Speaking after the talks and the 6th session of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said that the two sides had exchanged measures to promote and strengthen relations between the two countries, implementing the results and agreements of high-level leaders of the two countries in the past, especially since the two countries upgraded their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March 2014.

Both sides agreed to strengthen high-level visits and contacts, and to hold the 5th Deputy Foreign Minister-level Strategic Partnership Dialogue this fall.

The Deputy Prime Minister announced that on July 31, 2014, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung officially approved the Action Plan in Vietnam's Industrialization Strategy within the framework of Vietnam-Japan cooperation until 2020 and with a vision to 2030, covering four sectors: agricultural machinery, electronics, agricultural and aquatic product processing, and environment and energy saving.

Both sides agreed to strengthen Japanese investment in Vietnam through the implementation of Phase 5 of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative on the Development of Vietnam's Supporting Industries; exchanged measures to promote trade, including agricultural products, and welcomed the progress in agricultural cooperation in recent times.

The Deputy Prime Minister thanked and highly appreciated the Japanese Government's commitment to continue strongly supporting Vietnam's economic development through ODA assistance as well as the provision of non-project grants to ensure maritime safety and human resource development.

The two sides also discussed promoting cooperation in infrastructure development and implementing public-private partnerships (PPP) on several projects such as Can Tho University and Vietnam-Japan University.

The Deputy Prime Minister welcomed the Japanese Government's announcement of measures to facilitate the entry of Vietnamese citizens into Japan; and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of culture, sports, and people-to-people exchanges, especially among the younger generations of the two countries.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Vietnam supports Japan's active and constructive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Regarding the situation in the South China Sea, both sides agreed that maintaining peace, stability, freedom, security, and safety of navigation in the South China Sea is the common responsibility and interest of the international community; relevant parties should resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue on the basis of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and strictly adhere to the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, moving towards the development of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and refraining from actions that further complicate the situation.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence that the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Kishida Fumio to Vietnam would make a positive contribution to strengthening relations between the two countries and jointly implementing the strategic partnership.

On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude and appreciation for Mr. Kishida Fumio's tireless efforts in promoting friendly cooperative relations between the two countries in his capacity as the leader of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance and as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Overview of the meeting.

For his part, Minister Kishida Fumio expressed his pleasure that the relationship between the two countries has entered a new level – a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mr. Kishida Fumio stated that, in the context of the current international security environment, during the talks, both sides agreed that adherence to maritime law is indispensable in ensuring peace and stability in the seas, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

In addition, Japan has pledged to provide Vietnam with six used ships and maritime security equipment worth 500 million yen, contributing to strengthening Vietnam's maritime law enforcement capabilities.

The Japanese Foreign Minister emphasized that the common ground between Abenomics economic policy and Vietnam's industrialization strategy is that both seek new growth strategies. This forms the basis for enhanced cooperation between the two sides.

The two countries also need to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, human resource training, and economic linkages, including the TPP agreement.

During a meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee, relevant ministries and agencies from both sides exchanged views on measures to strengthen comprehensive economic cooperation in the coming period.

Mr. Kishida Fumio noted that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have entered a new phase. In 2013, Japan relaxed visa regulations for Vietnamese citizens; signed a grant agreement worth 350 million yen to support young officials studying in Japan, and hoped that through these programs, mutual understanding and trust between the people of the two countries would be further strengthened.

Earlier, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh and the Japanese Foreign Minister signed an Exchange of Notes regarding non-project grant aid from the Japanese Government to the Vietnamese Government on maritime safety.

Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida signed an exchange of notes regarding grant aid under the human resource development scholarship program in 2014.

According to Vietnam+