Vietnam considers Japan as a leading important, reliable, and long-term partner, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed while meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba in Vientiane, Laos, on October 11, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on October 7 that leaders of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) will agree on a 10-year action plan, aimed at promoting decarbonisation efforts in Southeast Asia, at their summit in Laos this week.