Hanoi (VNA) – Over the past 50 years, therelationship between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japanhas grown comprehensively and deeply across all fields, from politics, security,economy and investment to culture, society, and development cooperation.

ASEAN and Japan set up their dialogue partnership in 1973.In 1977, Takeo Fukuda became the first Japanese PM tohave a meeting with ASEAN leaders at the second ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. In that year, the Japanese PM announced the Fukuda Doctrine whichsketched out fundamental principles in Japan’s policy on ASEAN. Since then, the"heart to heart" diplomacy has become the "fulcrum" for theASEAN-Japan ties.

Japan has shown strong efforts in building a "heart toheart" and trustful relationship with ASEAN member countries, andcommitted to be their equal partner in order to build peace and prosperity inthe region.

This year, to mark the 50th anniversary of theASEAN-Japan relations, the two sides have agreed to name 2023 as theASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Year.

Commenting on the partnership between the two sides over halfa century, many experts and scholars held that the ASEAN-Japan strategicpartnership is one of the most meaningful and comprehensivebetween ASEAN and its partners, spanning across fields for peace, prosperity,quality of life, and heart-to-heart connection.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that the close bondsbetween ASEAN and Japan come from common values of an open economic linkage anda regional architecture basing on the law and connecting the people.

These values have been shown through strong commitments given by leaders of ASEANand Japan, which have been realised with impressive figures in all foundationcooperation areas such as politics, economy, trade, investment, human resourcestraining, and culture, said the FM.

In the field of economy, after 2000, ASEAN and Japan havesigned bilateral economic and investment partnership agreements as well as the ASEAN-JapanComprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP).

In recent years, Japan’s annual investment in ASEAN membercountries has reached about 2.8 trillion JPY (19.71 billion USD). About15,000 Japanese business facilities have operated in ASEAN countries.

Japan is also the fourth largest trade partner and the second biggest investorof ASEAN, with two-way trade revenue rising 11.6% in 2022.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang held thatthe Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendshipand Cooperation, which will be held immediately following ASEAN andJapan’s establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, is an occasionfor high-ranking leaders from both sides to assess cooperation results, and set updirections and vision for further development, in line with theirpotential and within the framework of the newly established Comprehensive StrategicPartnership.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that his country and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will map out a "newvision" of cooperation in various fields at the commemorative summit.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said he hopesthe event will become a “golden chance” to transfer the golden friendshipbetween Japan and ASEAN to next generations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said thatVietnam has supported and made positive contributions to realise the proposal of organising the commemorative summit that Japan raised early this year.

He affirmed that upgrading Vietnam-Japan relations to a Comprehensive StrategicPartnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World has not only promotedbilateral relations but also contributed to further strengthening ASEAN-Japanrelations, bringing practical benefits to the people of Japan, Vietnam, andASEAN.

During his stay in Japan for the commemorative summit, PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the summit of the Asia Zero EmissionsCommunity (AZEC) chaired by Japanese PM Kishida Fumio to promote cooperation inreducing carbon emissions, ensuring energy security and sustainabledevelopment.

Chinh's participation in the event affirms Vietnam's consistent policy of building a green economy, a circular economy, proactively responding toclimate change, and implementing commitments announced at the 26th UN ClimateChange Conference (COP26), as well as the recent COP28, including the one to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, said Ambassador Hieu.

Over the years, the Vietnam-Japan relations have developedstrongly in all fields, with economy being a key pillar in bilateralpartnership. Japan has been the leading economic, trade and investment partner ofVietnam.

During the trip, PM Chinh will have meetings with Japanese high-ranking leaders,deliver a speech at a roundtable with Japanese businesses and the Vietnam-Japanbusiness forum, as well as have meetings with heads of leading businesses andeconomic groups in Japan, according to spokesperson Hang. 

High-ranking leaders of the two countries will have an exchange of ideas on importantactivities to further deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields, based on a new partnership foundation.

Outcomes of the Vietnamese Government leader’s visit areexpected to contribute to accelerating the Vietnam-Japan relations as well asthe ASEAN-Japan ties as well as the growth of the region and the world./.