January 10 & 11, 2020

Shii talks with Vietnam's ambassador

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on January 9 met with Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam who came to express his wish for a successful JCP 28th Congress at the JCP head office. Ambassador Nam will temporarily return home for the lunar New Year "Tet".

Welcoming the ambassador's visit, Shii explained that the coming Congress will be a venue to discuss partial amendments to the present JCP Program. He said that he is very glad to see the JCP and the Communist Party of Vietnam continuing to cooperate in regard to the issue of nuclear weapons and other issues concerning East Asia. He also noted that the JCP-CPV theoretical exchange meeting successfully takes place every year, which is very welcome.

The ambassador said that Vietnam will chair ASEAN meetings and become a UNSC non-permanent member this year, and that the country will no longer construct thermal power stations and instead is promoting a green-energy policy as part of its effort to tackle climate change.

Koike offers congratulations at 'Mindan' New Year party

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on January 10 gave a congratulatory speech at the New Year party hosted by the Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) in Tokyo.

Along with representatives of other political parties, JCP member of the Lower House Kasai Akira also attended the party.

Koike exchanged greetings with Oh Gong-tae, president of the Mindan Central Headquarters, Nam Gwan-pyo, South Korean ambassador to Japan, and Kang Chang-il, the head of the South Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union.

Koike in his speech stated that the JCP "will work hard together with other political parties" to normalize the relationship between Japan and South Korea. He promised to make continuing efforts to eradicate hate speech and to realize local suffrage to foreign residents with permanent residency status.