Vietnam has lost a very close and dear friend!

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, stated that former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made significant contributions to Vietnam-Japan relations.

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, shared his condolences with the Government Online Newspaper upon learning of the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on the afternoon of July 8th.

He visited Vietnam 4 times.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong stated that former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made significant contributions to Vietnam-Japan relations.

The first important contribution was that Shinzo Abe and Vietnamese leaders established the framework for a comprehensive and extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan during Shinzo Abe's term as Prime Minister.

The second significant contribution is that Shinzo Abe played a crucial role in promoting high-level exchanges between Vietnam and Japan. During his time as Prime Minister, the Japanese Emperor and Empress made their first historic visit to Vietnam in 2017.

Shinzo Abe himself visited Vietnam four times as Prime Minister. The President of the Japanese Senate also visited Vietnam for the first time under Shinzo Abe's administration, and the Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives returned to Vietnam for the first time in 15 years. Thus, all key Japanese politicians and leaders visited Vietnam during Shinzo Abe's presidency.

On the Vietnamese side, Mr. Abe presided over and welcomed all Vietnamese leaders visiting Japan, including the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in September 2015, the State visit of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to Japan in 2018, and visits by the Vietnamese Prime Minister almost every year; in addition, there are high-level delegations and parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.

"During the visits of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to Japan, I felt that Mr. Abe Shinzo had a great affection for the people and country of Vietnam. Mr. Abe Shinzo always affirmed to Vietnamese leaders his love for Vietnam, his respect for the Vietnamese people, their loyalty to their friends, and their unwavering commitment. The Vietnamese people are hardworking and diligent. Mr. Abe Shinzo also admired the progress of Vietnam. In particular, Mr. Abe Shinzo once said: 'Each time I visit Vietnam, it seems to be more innovative and developed,'" Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong shared.

Regarding proposals from Vietnam to strengthen relations between Vietnam and Japan, increase ODA, enhance linkages between the two countries' economies, and support Vietnam in its industrialization and modernization policies, Mr. Abe Shinzo has expressed his support and positive response.

Following high-level visits between the two countries' leaders, Shinzo Abe issued directives within the Japanese government to implement the agreements and commitments made between the two leaders. It can be said that these high-level exchanges have contributed to building a close, friendly, and highly trusting relationship between the two leaders.

On the other hand, former Ambassador Nguyen Cuong said that Abe Shinzo encouraged and promoted local authorities and businesses in Japan to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with local authorities and businesses in Vietnam.

In particular, Abe Shinzo has always been a strong supporter of human resource development. This is demonstrated by very specific figures.

"When I went to Japan in 2015, there were about 50,000 Vietnamese people in Japan. By the end of 2018, that number had increased to about 300,000, and now it's around 400,000. I think that cooperation in human resource development between the two countries is both a bright spot and will become one of the important pillars in the relationship between the two countries for many years to come," former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong cited as an example.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Cuong, former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and Japanese leaders alike highly appreciate the contributions of Vietnamese students, interns, and trainees to the socio-economic development of Japan in general and Japanese localities in particular.

Shinzo Abe has always shown a favorable attitude towards Vietnamese leaders.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, Nguyen Quoc Cuong, said that what impressed him most was the very cordial exchange between the leaders of Vietnam and Japan. From former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to former Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, both established very close relationships with former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. The Japanese side was surprised that, even during the first visit, the two Prime Ministers had such a friendly conversation, like long-time friends.

"They also told me that Abe Shinzo had never shown such favor and close intimacy to any foreign politician," former Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong shared.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong had many opportunities to meet former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, especially during high-level visits and exchanges between the two countries. Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong's impression of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was his efficient and practical working style.

Former Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong expressed his gratitude to the Japanese ministries and agencies, the Prime Minister's Office, and especially former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo for their support in successfully fulfilling his duties as Ambassador.

Former Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Cuong recalled that on several occasions when high-ranking Vietnamese leaders visited Japan, Mr. Abe directly gave instructions during the preparation process, and some of these instructions went beyond the usual protocol. For example, the reception for the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who visited as a state guest of the Japanese government, was warm, respectful, and special. Furthermore, the Vietnamese Prime Minister visited Japan many times, almost annually, a very important partner of Vietnam, especially economically. Shinzo Abe always showed favorable feelings towards Vietnamese leaders.

In 2016, when I was the Japanese Ambassador, Mr. Abe invited Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to attend the G7 Expanded Summit. Despite being very busy with other G7 leaders, Mr. Abe extended a special gesture to the Vietnamese government delegation by inviting the Prime Minister to Tokyo for a reception and talks, treating it as an official visit with many important agreements.

Shortly after that year (in 2017), the Japanese Prime Minister also invited the Vietnamese Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Japan. Although Japanese authorities considered it unprecedented, Mr. Abe agreed to the Vietnamese request to attend the largest and first-ever Business Forum with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, attended by 1,600 people, under the witness of the Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Japan. Businesses from both countries reached agreements and economic commitments worth over $20 billion USD. This was a very special gesture for Vietnam.

A small detail that also demonstrates Mr. Abe's affection for Vietnam is the incident of the murder of little Nhat Linh in Japan. When meeting former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong at a reception, Mr. Abe proactively approached him and expressed the Japanese government's sorrow and apologized to the Vietnamese people for allowing such a regrettable incident to occur.

Therefore, upon hearing the news of the passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong expressed his sorrow, acknowledging the immense sentiments and contributions Mr. Abe Shinzo made to the relationship between Vietnam and Japan over the years, and considering it a great loss not only for Japan but also for Vietnam.