At the reception (Photo: VNA) President Phuc praised Suga for his leadership during his tenure,referring to the successful organisation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic andParalympic Games and the implementation of policies on digital transformation,green growth, smart society and sustainable development.
He also thanked Suga for his sentiments to Vietnam andhis contributions to promoting the bilateral ties in his capacity as JapanesePM in the past and as an advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary FriendshipAlliance at present.
The President highly appreciated Suga’s selectionof Vietnam for his first trip abroad after he took office in October 2020, and his ongoing visit.
He also thanked Suga for his decision to donateCOVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam as relief aid, helping the Southeast Asian nation to overcome the hardest time of the pandemic fight.
For his part, Suga expressed his hope that Vietnam andJapan will step up people-to-people exchanges to create a foundation forstronger cooperation in other fields, saying more Japanese localities want to cooperatewith their Vietnamese counterparts in specific spheres.
The two countries have joined hands in developinginfrastructure projects in Vietnam, including those using official development assistance(ODA), he said, stressing that Japanese firms have lauded Vietnam’s efforts inimproving its investment environment.
Hailing Vietnam’s commitment to net zero emissions,Suga said Japan wishes to enhance partnerships with Vietnam in clean energy andrenewable energy projects.
President Phuc affirmed that Japan is Vietnam’s extensive strategicpartner for peace, and Vietnam always attaches importance to the relationsacross sectors.
Japan remains Vietnam’s leading economic partner,biggest ODA supplier, third largest investor and tourism partner, and fourthbiggest trade partner, the President continued.
The host leader said he hoped that Japan will continuepromoting exchanges between people of the two countries, especially young generations,and deepening cooperation between localities.
Collaboration in labour, education, tourism andpeople-to-people exchanges should be further facilitated, he suggested.
President Phuc called on Suga to continue his support for thebilateral ties, and work to promote high-level meetings between the twoParties, Governments and legislatures.
He suggested Japan help Vietnam in green economy transitionand accessing the aid package worth 10 billion USD committed by Suga at the 26thUN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the UK.
Japan should simplify visa procedures for Vietnamesecitizens to contribute to fostering people-to-people exchanges, he said. /.
VNA
