Deputy PM Bui Thanh Son holds phone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister

Bui congratulated Iwaya on his appointment as Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, reassuring that Viet Nam considers Japan as a top and long-term strategic partner, and advocates Japan to play an increasingly active role and make more contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

He suggested both sides work together to strengthen economic cooperation, which is a key pillar of the bilateral ties, underlining the need to deepen economic connectivity, trade, investment, and official development assistance (ODA) cooperation, while promoting the implementation of new generation ODA with a focus on technology transfer.

Bui also called for expanding collaboration to newly-emerging and strategic fronts such as green transition, digital transformation, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI), urging Japan to support Viet Nam in implementing a program to train 50,000 engineers for the semiconductor industry by 2030.

He proposed Japan facilitate and simplify entry procedures for Vietnamese citizens, gradually moving towards visa exemptions.

Bui also took the occasion to invite Iwaya to pay a visit to Viet Nam and co-chair the 13^th Viet Nam-Japan Cooperation Committee in Viet Nam next year.

Iwaya, for his part, extended his congratulations to Luong Cuong upon his election as the President of Viet Nam. He also expressed his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Viet Nam for the losses and impacts caused by the Typhoon Yagi.

He highly valued Viet Nam's role and position both in the region and in the world, affirming that Viet Nam is a crucial partner in Japan's foreign policy toward the region.

The diplomat expected that both sides will continue stepping up cooperation in defense and security in a more substantive and effective manner.

Affirming Japan's desire to continue supporting and contributing to the development of Viet Nam's economy, Iwaya urged the two nations to enhance economic cooperation and coordinate to accelerate the progress of several key economic projects, including the Metro Line No. 1 project in Ho Chi Minh City.

The pair expressed their delight at the comprehensive advancement of the bilateral relations across various fields and reaffirmed their commitment to continue strengthening close cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to promote Viet Nam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership more effectively.

The two sides vowed to coordinate efforts to maintain regular high-level visits and exchanges, as well as to enhance people-to-people exchanges.

Bboth sides pledged to strengthen coordination and mutual support over regional and international issues of common concern, including the East Sea issue, as well as at international forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN, APEC, and Mekong in the upcoming period./.