Tokyo (VNA) – The Vietnam-Japan relations have developedsustainably thanks to similarities in the two peoples’ characteristics -industriousness and honesty, which help enhance mutual trust, according toJapanese former Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Katsuhito Asano.

Talking to VietnamNews Agency’s reporters on the occasion of the 45th anniversary ofVietnam-Japan diplomatic relationship, Asano said over the past 45 years, thebilateral ties have been bolstered through not only stable political relationsand expanding trade ties but also people-to-people exchanges, and cooperationin the fields of education, culture and sports.

He noted that therare presence of the Japanese Emperor and Empress at the national banquet heldto mark 45th years of diplomatic relations on the occasion ofPresident Tran Dai Quang’s official visit to Japan demonstrates the high esteemthat Japan gives to Vietnam.

Asano expressed his belief that further collaboration in the future will bring abright future to both nations.

Regarding the East Sea issue, he said that dialogues should be maintained toprevent conflicts in the waters. He hoped that Vietnam and Japan will fosterfriendship with China to maintain stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific.

Vietnam and Japan set up their diplomatic ties in September 1973. Over the pastyears, the two countries have become important partners of each other in manyfields. Since Vietnam and Japan lift their relationship to an ExtensiveStrategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia in March 2014, the twosides have enjoyed strong, comprehensive and practical progress in bilateralties.

Bilateral partnership is now at its best time in history since theestablishment of diplomatic relationship. Senior leaders of the two sides havemaintained regular visits and meetings at international and regional forums.The Prime Minister of Japan visited Vietnam 10 times, while the Speaker of theJapanese House of Representatives made two visits to Vietnam.

Speaker of the House of Councillors of Japan Yamazaki visited Vietnam inDecember 2015, while Prince Akishino paid an official visit to Vietnam in June1999 and a private visit in August 2012. The Crown Prince visited Vietnam in2009, and the Japanese Emperor and Empress visited Vietnam in 2017.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the CPV made four visits to Japan, theState President made two visits, the Prime Minister made six official visitsand nine working visits, and the National Assembly leader also made twoofficial visits to Japan.

The two sides have implemented important cooperation mechanisms, including theVietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee co-chaired by the two Foreign Ministers(which has met 9 times since 2007), the bilateral strategic dialogue ondiplomacy-security-defence at Deputy Foreign Ministerial level (six meetingssince 2010), the Vietnam-Japan defence policy dialogue at deputy ministeriallevel (five meetings since November 2012), and security dialogue at deputyministerial level (five meetings since November 2013), the joint committee ontrade, energy and agriculture cooperation (two meetings since 2014), and theagricultural dialogue at ministerial level (three meetings since 2014).

The two sides have cooperated closely and effectively at multilateral forumssuch as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC), and the Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM).-VNA