Japan Press Weekly

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2011 October 26 - November 1 TOP3 [JCP]

Shii meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo held talks with visiting Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 31 in Tokyo.

Dung said that the opportunity to exchange opinions with the JCP is significant for Vietnam to be able to make contributions to bilateral relations with Japan as well as to global and regional stability, peace, and cooperation.

Shii said that he felt that the 25 years of Vietnam’s Doi Moi (renovation) policy has made remarkable achievements.

Shii said that based on a three-point agreement, exchanges between the JCP and the Communist Party of Vietnam have been deepened, and expressed his hope for further development of the two parties’ relations in the 21st century.

The agreement was reached with the then CPV Secretary General Nong Duc Manh in 2007 to contribute to the development of Japan-Vietnam relations; to play a part in advancement and peace in the international community and the Asian region; and to promote the exchange of opinions in theoretical advances as parties aiming to achieve socialism and communism.

Regarding the issue of exporting nuclear power plant technologies from Japan to Vietnam, Shii said that even though he had no intention to interfere with Vietnam’s energy policy, as a comrade and a communist, he considered it a duty to speak of the dangers associated with nuclear power generation.

Shii explained that the JCP opposes the Japanese government policy promoting nuclear power generation and exporting nuclear power plants. As the reasons for this, Shii cited that safety concerns in relation to nuclear technology has not been fully addressed yet and that once serious accident happens, it will be impossible to control the extent of contamination and negative consequences. He added that Japan’s nuclear reactors are copies of U.S. reactors and that Japan’s preparedness against severe nuclear accidents is entirely insufficient.

Pointing out the fact that in Japan, after the Fukushima nuclear accident, construction of new nuclear reactors has become virtually impossible, Shii argued that Japan should not be allowed to build similar plants in other countries when construction is being prevented at home due to safety concerns.

While expressing appreciation for what Shii said, the Vietnamese prime minister said that Vietnam will promote peaceful uses of atomic energy for nation’s economic development.