TOKYO (Kyodo) — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang met on Thursday to discuss stronger bilateral ties through stepped-up economic and security cooperation and human exchanges.
Japan and Vietnam aim to bolster their “extensive strategic” partnership, with this year marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Strengthening cooperation with Vietnam is also seen important as Japan has been promoting its “free and open Indo-Pacific strategy,” a policy that the Abe administration has been pursuing in an apparent bid to counter China’s maritime influence in the region.
Through the meeting between Abe and Quang in Tokyo, Japan also hopes to strengthen economic ties with Vietnam, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in improving connectivity through infrastructure development, Japanese officials said.
The two countries are planning to promote human and cultural exchanges, with Vietnamese people comprising one of the largest foreign populations in Japan as of 2017.
Quang, who assumed the current post in 2016, is on a visit to Japan as a state guest.
On Wednesday, Emperor Akihito welcomed Quang in what may be his last state banquet before he abdicates next April.
Source: Nikkei Asia