Viet Nam welcomes the Agenda of

the G7 Ise-shima Summit and the its Outreach Meeting

At the invitation of the Government of Japan, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam, will visit Japan from 26 to 28 May 2016 to attend the G7 Ise-shima Outreach Meeting and engage in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a view to strengthening the Extensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. 

First and foremost, the G7 Ise-shima Summit and its Outreach Meeting are Japan’s most important diplomatic events in 2016. As the host country, Japan has been making every effort to ensure the success of the Summit, thus demonstrating Japan's responsible role in regional and global issues. Viet Nam shares in and highly values Japan’s undertakings in this regard.  

The G7 Summit is a multilateral forum with significant voice on various global issues. Around the world, economic recovery remains shaky, and slow growth continues to prevail, imposing obstacles on emerging economies. Geopolitical tension and non-traditional security challenges are becoming increasingly severe. Against that backdrop, Viet Nam commends Japan for proactively developing the G7 Summit and Outreach Meeting’s agenda. The Agenda has reflected the common interests of all countries ranging from the global economy and trade to international politics and security, including the issues of maintaining maritime security, safeguarding peace and prosperity for the region and the world, addressing climate change, energy security, and other development issues. Besides, issues of particular interest to Japan such as investment in quality infrastructure, healthcare and women have also been endorsed by the participating countries. Thematic issues have been discussed thoroughly during the ten G7 Ministers’ Meeting.  The Agenda for the G7 Ise-shima Summit and its Outreach Meeting has been adopted with high consensus. With that, we have every reason to believe that at this upcoming G7 Summit in Japan, substantive actions and remarks will be made by the participating countries, which will be conducive to peace, stability and development in the region and the world. 

Second, with regards to Viet Nam’s participation, this is the first time Viet Nam attends the G7 Summit’s Outreach Meeting. We highly appreciate the invitation from the Government of Japan, and view it as recognition from Japan and the international community for Viet Nam’s increasing role and enhanced status in the international arena. Viet Nam has proactively stepped up its international integration efforts, engaged in many international economic linkages, and been a responsible member of the international community. The main topics of discussion at the upcoming G7 and its Outreach Meeting are fundamentally compatible with Viet Nam’s concerns and interests. With that, Viet Nam concurs with Japan’s proposals and will make responsible contributions to the discussions, particularly to the issues pertinent to peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Viet Nam supports Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s initiatives on “partnership for quality infrastructure” and “Mekong-Japan connectivity.” Viet Nam also shares the common concern of many countries in the region and the world over the unilateral actions that have escalated tension and changed the status quo in the East Sea (South China Sea). Viet Nam’s consistent policy is to resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ensuring maritime safety and security, and freedom of navigation and over-flight in the East Sea. 

Third, from a bilateral perspective, the working visit to Japan by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc just one month after he assumed office stands as a testament to the flourishing relations between Viet Nam and Japan. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is the first to visit Japan among Viet Nam’s new leadership appointed by the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the recent National Assembly session in April.  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will engage in bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He will also deliver a keynote speech at the Viet Nam-Japan High-level Economic Dialogue, relaying the message that the Vietnamese new leadership attaches great importance to the Extensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and considers Japan a leading and long-term partner of Viet Nam. 

I wish the G7 Ise-shima Summit and its Outreach Meeting a great success.

May the Viet Nam - Japan High-level Talks achieve many positive outcomes that further consolidate and deepen the Extensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Nguyễn Quốc Cường

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Viet Nam to Japan