Japan Press Weekly

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2013 September 25 - October 1 [JCP]

JCP & CPV confirm cooperation for peace in East Asia

Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chair Shii Kazuo on September 23 had talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi, agreeing to strengthen mutual cooperation for the abolition of nuclear weapons and working to create peace in East Asia.

Referring to various exchanges between the two parties since his last visit to Vietnam in 2007, Shii said, “I hope that our relationship will further develop in the future.” Trong replied, “I’m sure that the JCP’s visit to our country increases our ties to new heights in the new era.”

Regarding the issue of the abolition of nuclear weapons, Shii pointed out that the present task for the international community is to start negotiations over a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC) and expressed that he hopes for the two parties to work together in this regard toward the 2015 Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Trong stressed Vietnam’s consistent stance opposing nuclear weapons.

Citing the development of various international frameworks for peace such as Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Shii noted that the spirit of these efforts is to stick to “nonuse of military force” and “peaceful resolution” of disputes between countries. “I hope that we can contribute to creating a framework for multilateral dialogue like TAC in Northeast Asia as well,” he said. Trong showed his approval of Shii’s remarks and stated that the Vietnamese government will continue to make diplomatic efforts to solve territorial disputes in the South China Sea, even if it takes a long time.

The JCP chair also expressed his expectation that Vietnam’s Doi Moi policy will bear more fruit. Trong valued the outcome of the series of theoretical exchange meetings with the JCP that have been held four times, saying, “In terms of how to pave the way for socialism through a market economy, we have been able to get helpful hints from our comrades in Japan.”

Shii explained that the JCP calls for a swift departure from nuclear power generation and opposes Japan’s nuclear plant exports as well as Japan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade pact. Trong expressed his gratitude for Shii’s candor.

Prior to the talks, Shii met with Vice-Chair of the CPV Central Theory Council Vu Van Hien. The following day Shii also had talks with Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung and President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group To Huy Rua.