Vietnam attends expanded G7 summit for the first time

The first time the G7 invited Vietnam to attend the expanded G7 Summit shows the international community's trust in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Photo: Quang Hieu)

At the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, today (May 26), Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc began his visit to Japan and attended the expanded G7 Summit in Mie, Japan, from June 26-28. The fact that Japan and the G7 countries invited Vietnam to attend the expanded G7 Summit for the first time demonstrates the international community's trust in Vietnam as well as Vietnam's prestige and international role in the region.

After 43 years of establishing diplomatic relations, Japan has become Vietnam's leading economic partner. The two sides upgraded their relationship to Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia in 2009 and to Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia in 2014.

Economically, Japan is currently Vietnam's fourth largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching over 28 billion USD in 2015 and about 6.4 billion USD in the first quarter of this year, and is the second largest investor in Vietnam with over 3,000 direct investment projects, with a total registered capital of over 39 billion USD (as of the end of April). There have been many impressive figures demonstrating effective economic cooperation between the two countries over the years, such as Japan has committed to providing more than 27 billion USD in ODA capital to Vietnam, helping Vietnam invest in infrastructure, socio-economic development, social security projects, and poverty reduction. In addition, Japan is also supporting and cooperating with Vietnam in many other areas where the two countries have great potential, such as education, agriculture, and labor export.

Politically, the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan continues to develop strongly, comprehensively and substantially. An important milestone in the bilateral relationship was the official visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Japan in September 2015, with the two countries signing the “Declaration on the common vision of Vietnam-Japan relations”. Senior leaders of the two countries have also maintained regular visits and contacts at international and regional forums.

The Vietnam-Japan friendship has been nurtured by the people of the two countries for over 40 years. Immediately after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the Vietnamese people stood side by side with the Japanese people to overcome the disaster, recover and develop the economy. That affection has been constantly nurtured, helping the two peoples of Vietnam and Japan to become more united to overcome difficulties and challenges.

Currently, Japan is an important member of the G7 group of seven industrialized countries, along with Germany, the UK, France, Italy, the US and Canada. This is an important group of countries in the world, because the G7 accounts for 64% of global assets and 47% of world GDP; it is a forum for leading developed countries to seek consensus and unify views and positions on international and regional issues.

At the G7 Summit opening today in Mie Prefecture, the G7 will discuss many issues such as promoting global economic growth; resolving international security challenges... The fact that Japan and the G7 countries invited Vietnam to attend the expanded G7 Summit for the first time demonstrates trust, appreciation of Vietnam's position, role and sense of responsibility in building peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

For Vietnam, this is an opportunity to demonstrate its sense of responsibility in contributing to resolving issues of common regional and international concern. By participating in this G7 Summit, Vietnam wishes to make a more active contribution to the common efforts of the international community, together with other countries, to address global challenges.

It can be said that the first time Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Japan and attended the expanded G7 Summit in his capacity as Prime Minister shows that the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan continues to be consolidated, developed strongly, comprehensively and substantially. The visit will continue to implement the foreign policy of our Party and State; clearly demonstrating Vietnam's policy of proactively integrating deeply into the world, contributing responsibly to consolidating peace, stability and development in the region and the world./.

According to VOV