Top legislator embarks on official visit to Japan

The top Vietnamese legislator was welcomed at Haneda International Airport by Makino Takao, member of the House of Councillors, along with officials from the House committees, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, embassy staff, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan were present at the airport.

The visit aims to strengthen cooperative relations between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the Japanese Diet (parliament), while reaffirming Viet Nam's commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and globally.

It also offers an opportunity for the two sides to exchange information and parliamentary experiences, creating new momentum for the development of bilateral relations.

During the five-day visit to Japan, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man is set to hold talks with the heads of both houses, meet with the Prime Minister, and pay a courtesy call on the Emperor and Empress.

He is expected to sign a cooperation agreement between the National Assembly of Viet Nam and the house of Councilors.

In addition, the Chairman will also have meetings with leaders of political parties and then visit Nagasaki Prefecture.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973, Viet Nam and Japan have progressively elevated their relationship, from a "Reliable, Long-Term Stable Partnership" in 2002 to "Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" in 2009 and "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" in 2014, and most recently, a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World" in 2023.

Japan is Viet Nam's largest official development assistance provider, the second largest labor cooperation partner, the third largest investor, the third largest tourism partner, and the fourth largest trading partner.

By August 2024, Japan had 5,417 valid foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Viet Nam, with total registered capital exceeding US$79.3 billion, ranking third after the Republic of Korea and Singapore.

The two-way trade turnover valued US$30.47 billion in the first eight months of 2024, a 5.07 percent increase year-on-year, with Vietnamese exports totaling US$16.1 billion (up 5.6 percent) and imports from Japan hitting US$14.37 billion (up 3.1 percent).

Labor and education cooperation is growing, alongside robust local-level cooperation, with over 110 agreements signed between Vietnamese and Japanese localities. Sister cities include Ho Chi Minh City-Osaka, Ha Noi-Fukuoka, Da Nang-Sakai, and many others./.