Promoting Vietnam’s role on international stage

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to attend the G20 Summit and visit Japan aims to promote Vietnam as a dynamic economy and a reliable and responsible partner of the international community, as well as to demonstrate that Vietnam attaches importance to the extensive strategic partnership with Japan, thereby helping this relationship grow in a more comprehensive and substantive manner.

Vietnam was first invited to attend the G20 Summit in 2010 as ASEAN Chair. In 2017, as the host country of the APEC Summit, Vietnam also participated actively and contributed responsibly at the G20 Summit, leaving a good impression on the G20 and helping to enhance Vietnam’s position.

Many of Vietnam’s ideas were recognised by the G20 in its joint statement, such as increasing international cooperation in dealing with global economic issues, inclusive and sustainable development, agriculture and water resources, security, and employment in the digital economy. Vietnam also sought to promote the common benefits and interests of developing economies in the global economic agenda such as international trade and investment, the fight against climate change and global economic governance reform.

In 2019, Japan invited Vietnam to attend the G20 Summit as a guest. This year’s G20 Summit takes place at a time when global economic growth is slowing, with plenty of risks due to more intense strategic competition between major powers. Economic cooperation is still promoted but many multi-lateral institutions and forums are facing difficulties.

The fourth industrial revolution continues to grow rapidly, presenting many issues that need enhanced international cooperation to handle. In recent years, the agenda of G20 Summits has expanded to cover many areas but it is difficult to reach consensus on a number of global economic issues such as commitment to trade liberalisation, anti-protectionism and combating climate change.

In this context, the G20 Summit in Osaka will discuss four major themes, namely global economy, trade and investment; innovations and digital economy; sustainable development, employment, women’s empowerment and healthcare; and environment, energy and climate change. As a guest, Vietnam will attend meetings within the framework of the Summit and contribute its ideas to the draft joint statement, through which it aims to communicate the image of Vietnam as a reliable and responsible partner in the international community which always proactively participates in and promotes its role at multi-lateral mechanisms.

The relationship between Vietnam and Japan is developing well with high political trust. Since the two countries established relations in 1973, the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan has been continually cultivated by generations of the two countries’ leaders and peoples, becoming a common asset of both nations.

In 2014, the two countries established an extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia, opening a new chapter in the development of the bilateral relationship. Such a relationship has been strengthened by frequent visits and high-level meetings of the two countries’ leaders. Vietnam and Japan maintain important cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by two foreign ministers, and the Vietnam-Japan Strategic Partnership Dialogue on foreign affairs, security and defence at the foreign deputy ministerial level. Japan works closely and effectively with Vietnam at many multi-lateral forums and international organisations.

We are pleased to witness that economic cooperation is a highlight of Vietnam-Japan relations. Japan is the largest donor of ODA to Vietnam. Total bilateral trade in the first five months of 2019 reached US$15.28 billion, up 3.2% over the same period last year.

Agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has seen significant progresses with the signing of a medium and long-term vision on agricultural cooperation. Cooperation in response to climate change continues to grow and become more substantive, with Japan continually providing ODA for Vietnam’s climate change response projects. Cooperation in labour, education, tourism, and between the two countries’ localities have also seen many fruitful results.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to attend the G20 Summit and visit to Japan aims to underline Vietnam’s stance of extensive and comprehensive international integration, thereby enhancing the position and reputation of Vietnam on the international stage, while affirming Vietnam’s determination to take the extensive strategic partnership with Japan to a new more substantive and effective period of development, in accordance with the two sides’ benefits, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.