National Assembly Chairwoman meets Japanese Prime Minister

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (right) and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) backs major cooperation orientations between Vietnam and Japan in the time ahead in order to deepen the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan affirmed on October 19.

At a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, who is on a three-day official visit to Vietnam, Ngan expressed her hope that the two sides will carry forward their cooperation achievements.

The top legislator said she believes that under the sound leadership of PM Suga, Japan will grow stronger, significantly contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

PM Suga’s Vietnam visit would be a success and open up a new development period for the bilateral friendship and cooperation, the host leader believed.

In reply, PM Suga rejoiced at exchanges between parliamentarians of the two countries, and affirmed that Japan wishes to join hands with Vietnam to step up the links.

He lauded Ngan’s role as Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) which was held online last month successfully amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the AIPA 41 has remarkably contributed to enhancing solidarity between ASEAN parliamentarians.

Suga used the occasion to thank the Vietnamese legislature for presenting 20,000 face masks to Japan, which, he said, have been used at Japanese medical facilities.

Expressing her pleasure at the fruitful development of cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, Chairwoman Ngan said the Vietnamese NA attaches due attention and actively contributes to promoting the bilateral extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

The Vietnamese and Japanese governments are joining negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, and the Vietnamese legislature will soon consider and approve the deal once its negotiations and signing are completed, she pledged.

Ngan asked the PM to convey her thanks to the Japanese National Diet for its active contributions to the AIPA 41.

She also suggested the two governments continue to effectively implement the existing cooperation mechanisms and cooperate to soon conclude the RCEP this year.

The top legislator proposed Japan step up cultural exchanges, cooperation between localities and high-quality personnel development collaboration by receiving Vietnamese trainees.

She thanked Japan for its support for Vietnam in the COVID-19 combat, and suggested closer coordination between the two countries in the fight and the recovery of travelling and cooperation activities.

At the meeting, Ngan affirmed that the Vietnamese NA stands ready to listen to opinions of Japanese firms to complete the domestic legal system in order to materialise Vietnam’s commitments to free trade agreements to which both Vietnam and Japan are signatories.

She suggested the Japanese PM facilitate mutual visits and exchanges at all levels, and affirmed that the Vietnamese legislature will continue coordination with its Japanese counterpart to enhance exchanges between parliamentarians’ groups and NA agencies.

The leaders shared their view on the significance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and peacefully settling disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.