Our visit to Vietnam strengthens JCP-CPV relations of friendship and solidarity suitable for 21 century: Shii

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Our visit to Vietnam strengthens JCP-CPV relations of friendship and solidarity suitable for 21 century: Shii

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo held a press conference on January 12, his last day in Hanoi City in Vietnam. He said he is looking forward to visiting his second destination, Ho Chi Minh City, spoke about his visit to Hanoi, and took questions from Japanese and Vietnamese media.

Shii stated, "The purpose of our visit was to build on the 41 year-old relations of friendship and solidarity between the JCP and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) since the Vietnamese anti-U.S. national salvation war in a form suitable for the 21st century." He went on to say, "I am pleased that we have newly strengthened our relations of friendship and solidarity in accordance with the current situation through a series of talks with the CPV, including General Secretary Nong Duc Manh."

Explaining that in his meeting with Manh, they agreed on the need to strengthen the international order of peace based on the U.N. Charter, demand the withdrawal of the U.S. forces from Iraq with a set timetable, reach a reasonable resolution of the North Korean issue, and achieve the global abolition of nuclear weapons, Shii said, "We hope to greatly strengthen cooperation between the two parties for peace in Asia and elsewhere in the world."

Revealing that the two parties have agreed to conduct theoretical exchanges, the JCP chair said, "We will push forward with exchanges on issues that interest both parties, including analysis of the 21st century world, socialism, and the realities of capitalism."

Shii also said, "The meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has established an official relationship between the JCP and the Vietnamese government." Welcoming the development of friendly relations between Japan and Vietnam, he said, "It is significant that we have reached an agreement with the prime minister to cooperate with each other in enriching the friendly relations between our countries, our parties, and the peoples of both nations."

"Through the talks with leaders of the CPV and the Vietnamese government and the opportunities to inspect the achievements of the Doi Moi (renovation) policy line, I am convinced that Vietnam is making serious efforts and explorations in order to advance to a socialist society through market economy," Shii said. He added, "In the meeting with Hanoi University students, I felt strongly that Vietnam has a rich future."
- Akahata, January 13, 2007