Vietnam defines Japan as the leading important and long-term development partner, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in an interview with major Japanese news agencies and newspapers on the threshold of his official visit to Japan from September 15-18. Regarding questions raised by reporters from Kyodo News, NHK Television, Yomiuri Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun newspapers, and Asahi television, the Party leader said that this was his first ever official visit to Japan in the capacity as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The visit takes place at a time when bilateral relations between the two countries have flourished With this visit at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Abe, Vietnam wants to underline that it considers Japan as a long-term development partner and it remains keen to further deepen the extensive strategic partnership. Trong claimed his visit would focus on promotion of economic connectivity, enhancement of political trust and intensification of bilateral co-operation on regional and international issues.
