Prime Minister welcomes Japanese Defence Minister

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

Japan considers Vietnam one of its most important partners in cooperation, raising defence capacity, a Japanese official said on May 4.

In a reception hosted by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi, visiting Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya further said that Japan is willing to support Vietnam in dealing with post-war bomb and mine consequences and hopes that the country will play an increasingly important role in the region and the world.

He took the occasion to extend his profound sympathies to the Vietnamese people over the passing away of former President, General Le Duc Anh.

PM Phuc hailed the significance of the minister’s visit in fostering the defence ties between the two countries, contributing to intensifying the bilateral extensive strategic partnership.

He stressed that in the context of complicatedly developing international situation, the two countries remain each other’s reliable partner, with effective cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.

Speaking of Japan’s role in the region, Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always considers it a leading important and long-term partner and is willing to share with the country similarities in strategic interests in maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the region for the development of each nation.

Vietnam backs Japan to promote its constructive and active role in regional and inter-regional collaboration mechanisms, he added.

The Government leader appreciated the two defence ministries’ signing of a joint vision statement on defence cooperation for the next decade, and asked both sides to take measures to effectively implement the statement, including stepping up collaboration in human resources training, cyber security, military medicine and defence industry.

(Source: VNA)