On May 28, commencing at 5:40 p.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister, held a small meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office with H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who was visiting Japan to attend the Outreach Meeting of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, and then a Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting commencing at 6:00 p.m. for approximately 50 minutes, followed by a dinner commencing at 7:15 p.m. for approximately one hour. The overview is as follows.

1. Beginning

Prime Minister Abe once again welcomed Prime Minister Phuc to Japan and congratulated him on his appointment as Prime Minister and the success of the recent National Party Congress. Prime Minister Abe also expressed gratitude for Prime Minister Phuc’s attendance at the Outreach Meeting of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit and his positive contributions to the discussion, and explained that he intends to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in the fields that were raised at the Outreach Meeting also, based on the Extensive Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Phuc highly appreciated Prime Minister Abe’s role as Chair of the G7 Summit and the Outreach Meeting, and expressed his appreciation for the courteous hospitality at the Prime Minister’s Office. Prime Minister Phuc explained that Viet Nam (which has shifted to a new leadership) continues to attach importance to Japan as a long-term, crucial partner, and intends to strive to develop the bilateral relationship.

2. Bilateral relations

(1) High-level exchanges, etc.

The two leaders shared the view that they will work closely together on bilateral cooperation and challenges in the regional and international arenas through active high-level exchanges and holding bilateral meetings at international conferences and fora, as well as through existing dialogues such as the Japan-Viet Nam Cooperation Committee.

(2) Natural disasters

Prime Minister Abe conveyed his condolences for Viet Nam’s drought and salt damage, and explained that Japan recently decided to extend emergency grant aid of 2.5 million USD. Prime Minister Phuc expressed his deep gratitude, along with stating that in the interest of assisting citizens struggling with the damage, he hopes Japan will continue to take an interest. Prime Minister Phuc also expressed sympathy for the recent Kumamoto Earthquake on behalf of the citizens and Government of Viet Nam, and Prime Minister Abe expressed his thanks for the words of condolence.

(3) Quality infrastructure

Prime Minister Abe explained to Prime Minister Phuc that Japan intends to make greater contributions to developing quality infrastructure throughout the world through the “Expanded Partnership for Quality Infrastructure,” a recently-announced initiative totaling approximately 200 billion USD, along with stating that from this standpoint, notes on a yen loan for the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Project Line 1 was exchanged on the same day. Prime Minister Abe also expressed expectation that the construction of Line 1 will be integrated with the development of the Ben Thanh underground shopping mall, and both projects will become symbols of Japan-Viet Nam cooperation. Prime Minister Phuc conveyed his gratitude for the Official Development Assistance (ODA) that Japan has extended to Viet Nam thus far, and stated that from the viewpoint of strengthening connectivity also, he welcomed Japanese companies’ participation in infrastructure development projects. In addition, the two leaders shared the view that they will promote cooperation in the field of human resources development, including establishing Japan-Viet Nam University and introducing technical colleges in Viet Nam.

(4) Strengthening maritime law-enforcement capabilities, and defense exchange

Prime Minister Abe expressed the view that strengthening Viet Nam’s maritime law-enforcement capabilities is an urgent issue, and explained that Japan will provide solid support. Prime Minister Abe stated that the procedure for providing used vessels and a study on the provision of newly-built vessels also will be undertaken with a sense of urgency. In response, Prime Minister Phuc expressed his gratitude for the provision of used vessels to Viet Nam’s maritime law-enforcement agency, along with voicing strong expectation with regard to cooperation in the form of human resources development and the provision of newly-built patrol vessels.

With regard to defense cooperation, the two leaders expressed satisfaction that defense cooperation and exchange is progressing steadily in various fields, and shared the view that they will continue to promote cooperation.

(5) Other

The two leaders also exchanged views on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), along with sharing the view that they will promote greater cooperation based on the Japan-Viet Nam Medium-Long Term Vision On Agricultural Cooperation.

3. Cooperation in the regional and international arenas

Prime Minister Abe explained that he visited Hiroshima on the previous day with the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States of America, and reiterated his resolve for a world without nuclear weapons, and stated that he also hopes to strengthen coordination with Viet Nam through the United Nations and other such fora in order to realize a world without nuclear weapons.

The leaders shared strong concerns over the further escalation in attempts to unilaterally change the status quo in the South China Sea, including large-scale and rapid land reclamation, the construction of outposts and their use for military purposes, and affirmed the importance of the rule of law at sea, freedom of navigation and flights, and peaceful settlement of conflicts. The two leaders also confirmed that Japan and Viet Nam will work together to resolve various problems related to North Korea.

Additionally, the two leaders confirmed cooperation at Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related meetings this year, and Prime Minister Abe expressed hope that ASEAN members will act with unity.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan:  http://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sea1/vn/page4e_000459.html