Brian Jeffrey
On December 5, Chairman Tran Thanh Man of the National Assembly engaged in discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.
Chairman Man reiterated Vietnam’s perspective of Japan as a key and enduring strategic partner, expressing support for Japan’s initiative in fostering peace, stability, and development both regionally and globally.
Prime Minister Ishiba acknowledged the strong bond between Vietnam and Japan, which is characterized by solid relationships among their top leaders. He reflected on his visit to Vietnam 35 years ago and expressed optimism regarding Vietnam’s growth and its potential prominence in Asia.
During their meeting, they decided to bolster cooperation in areas such as workforce development, labor exchanges, quality training, and social exchanges. Vietnam pledged to send a larger number of workers to Japan to assist with the challenges posed by Japan’s aging population.
Both leaders also agreed to create more opportunities for Vietnamese individuals studying, living, and working in Japan.
Chairman Man sought Japan’s continued backing for Vietnam’s efforts in industrialization and modernization, promoting investment in essential sectors including infrastructure, clean energy, high-tech farming, green energy transition, digital innovation, data management, and semiconductor technologies.
Moreover, Vietnam requested Japan’s help in integrating into the global semiconductor supply network and accelerating new-generation Official Development Assistance (ODA) initiatives.
At a different meeting, Chairman Man and Japanese Senate President Sekiguchi Masakazu evaluated steps to enhance their bilateral relationship.
Chairman Man remarked on the current strength of the relationship, punctuated by high levels of political trust and frequent exchanges at various tiers. President Sekiguchi expressed optimism that this year signifies a new chapter in their half-century partnership, affirming the Japanese Senate’s commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation.
The leaders expressed satisfaction with significant achievements across various sectors, including economic, trade, labor, cultural exchanges, and local collaboration. Japan has established itself as Vietnam’s largest ODA donor, second for labor cooperation, third for investment, fourth in tourism, and a top trading partner.
Chairman Man welcomed Japan’s new foreign labor policies, which introduced a “training-work” system to succeed the former “skills internship” program. He encouraged Japan to broaden the categories of occupations and enhance the number of Vietnamese trainees accepted.
The leaders highlighted the significance of parliamentary cooperation as a fundamental aspect of their relationship. The National Assembly of Vietnam and the Japanese Senate formalized a cooperation agreement aimed at improving legislative collaboration in both bilateral and multilateral capacities.
They also committed to strengthening interactions among lawmakers, particularly focusing on young and female parliamentarians, while leveraging the Friendship Parliamentary Alliance to enhance people-to-people connections, business collaborations, and community partnerships.
Additionally, they affirmed their dedication to supporting one another within multilateral frameworks to advance mutual interests and shared objectives.
