HÀ NỘI — The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) backs major cooperation orientations between Việt Nam and Japan in order to deepen the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries, NA Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân said on Monday.

At a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who is on a three-day official visit to Việt Nam, Ngân expressed her hope that the two sides will carry forward their cooperation achievements.

The top legislator expressed her belief that under the sound leadership of PM Suga, Japan would grow stronger, significantly contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

PM Suga’s Việt Nam visit would be a success and open up a new development period for the bilateral friendship and cooperation, the host leader said.

In reply, PM Suga rejoiced at exchanges between parliamentarians of the two countries, and affirmed that Japan wished to work with Việt Nam to step up the links.

He lauded Ngân’s role as Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41) which was held online last month successfully amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the AIPA 41 has contributed to enhancing solidarity between ASEAN parliamentarians.

Suga used the occasion to thank the Vietnamese legislature for presenting 20,000 face masks to Japan, which, he said, had been used at Japanese medical facilities.

Expressing her pleasure at the fruitful development of cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan, Chairwoman Ngân said the Vietnamese NA attached due attention and actively contributed to promoting the bilateral extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

The Vietnamese and Japanese governments were joining negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, and the Vietnamese legislature would soon consider and approve the deal once its negotiations and signing are completed, she pledged.

Ngân asked the PM to convey her thanks to the Japanese National Diet for its active contributions to the AIPA 41.

She also suggested the two governments continue to effectively implement the existing cooperation mechanisms and cooperate to soon conclude the RCEP this year.

The top legislator proposed Japan step up cultural exchanges, cooperation between localities and high-quality personnel development collaboration by receiving Vietnamese trainees.

She thanked Japan for its support for Việt Nam in the fight against COVID-19, and suggested closer coordination between the two countries in the fight and the recovery of travelling and cooperation activities.

At the meeting, Ngân affirmed that the Vietnamese NA stood ready to listen to opinions of Japanese firms to complete the domestic legal system in order to materialise Việt Nam’s commitments to free trade agreements to which both Việt Nam and Japan are signatories.

She suggested the Japanese PM facilitate mutual visits and exchanges at all levels, and affirmed that the Vietnamese legislature would continue coordination with its Japanese counterpart to enhance exchanges between parliamentarians’ groups and NA agencies.

The leaders shared their view on the significance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and peacefully settling disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

On Monday, the Japanese Prime Minister had a meeting with students of the Vietnam-Japan University (VJU) under the Vietnam National University, Hà Nội - a symbol of human resource development projects between Japan and ASEAN - as part of his official visit to Việt Nam. — VNS