State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 12 welcomed Japanese Minister of Defence Kishi Nobuo, who is making an official visit to Vietnam from September 10-12 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phan Van Giang.

Video: VNA

President Phuc stressed that Vietnam will create every favourable condition for the further boosting of the cooperation in the field of national defence with Japan.

Phuc spoke highly of Japan’s stance on ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

For his part, Minister Kishi Nobuo affirmed Vietnam is a partner of the top importance of Japan in the region. He expressed his hope that the two countries will further strengthen their national defence cooperation. 

Hosting Kishi Nobuo, Chinh told the guest that the Party, State, Government and people of Vietnam take Japan as one of the partners of top importance which enjoys a high trust in the country’s foreign policy.

The PM also affirmed to facilitate the development of the bilateral national defence cooperation.

Minister Kishi Nobuo spoke highly of the Vietnam Government’s efforts in the fight against the pandemic and affirmed he will ask Japan’s relevant authorities to continue the vaccine assistance to Vietnam.

The guest added that Japan will continue cooperating with Vietnam in the field of Vietnam’s priority. 

Earlier on September 11, Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang host an official welcome ceremony for Japanese Defence Minister Kishi Nobuo, and then the two ministers held talks in Hanoi.

The two sides spoke highly of the bilateral defence ties over the recent past; exchanged ideas on regional and world situation of mutual concern.

They reaffirmed the need for the compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two ministers also exchanged ideas on the orientations for the Vietnam-Japan defence cooperation in the new period and welcomed the signing of the agreement on the transfer of defence technology and equipment./.

Q.Hoa t.h / VNA