November 29, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on November 28 held talks with visiting Vietnam President Vo Van Thuong in Tokyo.

Thuong said that he was pleased that his visit this time has contributed to elevating Vietnam-Japan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the rest of the world.

Shii said that he welcomed the confirmation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Japan and Vietnam as the development of friendship between the two countries. He noted that Vietnam has strengthened its ties with major countries, including the United States and China, and said that this is a manifestation of Vietnam’s comprehensive diplomacy based on its policy of sovereign independence. He went on to say, “Vietnam adopts the position of sovereign independence which forms the backbone of its foreign policy. This is similar to our party position.”

Shii said that he would like to increase collaborative efforts with Vietnam regarding issues of common interest such as the promotion of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) aimed at creating an inclusive peace framework in East Asia. He pointed out that relations between the JCP and the Communist Party of Vietnam have entered a new phase through such means as holding theoretical exchanges, and said that he hopes that bilateral ties will further develop.

The Vietnamese president expressed his approval of the importance of cooperation in the efforts to abolish nuclear weapons as well as in the AOIP initiative where ASEAN plays a central role. He expressed his hope that the promotion of joint efforts in the region for peace and development as well as of cooperative ties including theoretical exchanges between the JCP and the CPV will contribute to the development of enhanced Vietnam-Japan relations.

Those who attended the talks included JCP Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo, Vietnamese Vice-Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, and Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai.

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JCP Chair Shii Kazuo and JCP Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo on the day attended a ceremony held in Tokyo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations.