Vietnam and Japan share an age-old history. According to ancient documents, in the 8th century, Vietnamese Buddhist monk visited Japan. In the 17th-18th centuries Japanese merchant boats and traders visited Vietnamese ports, North and South. Many Japanese stayed, built streets and opened shops in Vietnam. Many Japanese relics remain in Vietnam, especially Hoi An ancient town with Japanese-style bridge carefully preserved by Vietnamese people to honour of the strong ties of friendship from the old time. In spite of up and down in history, the age-old relations between the two peoples have served as a strong foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
Since the official establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973, the relations and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan have unceasingly developed in depth and scale with unprecedented steps, political, diplomatic, economic, trade, investment, ODA, human resources, science-technology, culture and people’s exchange. The two sides upgraded their relations to “Strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” in 2009. It marked a new chapter in the history improving Vietnam-Japan relationship. More importantly, the broadening and deepening of bilateral friendship have been fully supported by leaders and peoples of the two countries as well as Japanese political parties.
Politically, leaders of the two countries have regularly exchanged visits, contributing to the political trust and mapping out orientations and measures to increase the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The fact that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chose Vietnam as the first country to visit after his assumption of office (January 2013) demonstrated the importance of the maintenance of visits and exchanges of the leaders and Vietnam is a high priority in Japanese foreign policy. Meanwhile, in the past years, mechanism for dialogue and cooperation has been established. Alongside Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee, dialogue mechanisms in various fields have deepened, upgrading bilateral cooperation. The two sides have closely coordinated in international and regional organisations and forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN+, ARF, EAS, APEC and Mekong-Japan cooperation, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
Economically, Japan has become the first ranking partner of Vietnam, the biggest investor in both projects and investment capital and the 3rd biggest trade partner. In the past 20 years, Japan has been the biggest ODA donor, accounting for one third of ODA pledged by international community for Vietnam. Japanese assistance and cooperation have contributed to socio-economic development in Vietnam, especially in energy and infrastructure development. At the same time, Japan has also assisted Vietnam in the process of international economic integration, such as joining WTO and was the first country of G7 recognising Vietnam as a market economy.
More interestingly, the two countries have developed close contacts between different strata of the people and promoted cultural exchanges. In 2012, over 500,000 Japanese visited Vietnam and some ten thousand Vietnamese visited Japan, including over 4,000 students and 18,000 trainees. Cultural and sports events have been organised regularly. Japanese take great interests in traditional culture of various Vietnamese ethnic cultures as well as gastronomy “phở” (noodle soup) and “nem” (spring roll), while Vietnamese love Japanese comic books, cherry festival and sake made from Japanese rice planted in Vietnam.
Most particularly, in difficulties and natural disasters, the two peoples truly shared weal and woe. Vietnamese adults and children voluntarily contributed their parts helping Japanese victims of earthquake-tsunami in March 2011. Vietnamese admired Japanese staunchness and were also deeply moved at seeing a placard on the wall of Japanese embassy “Xin chân thành cảm ơn” (Sincere thanks). Also in 2011, while recovering from the damages, Japan kept increasing ODA for Vietnam higher than 2010. No doubt, the social foundation has brought the two peoples together and will continue to strengthen bilateral relations in the future.
In developing bilateral relations, Vietnam and Japan have complemented each other for mutual benefit. Japan has advantages in capital, technology, management skill but needs more cooperation in international economic cooperation, especially in Asia; Vietnam is rich in workforce, improving investment environment and potential market with the population reaching 100 million in the coming years. In order to attain the objective of a fundamentally industrialised country in 2020, Vietnam must attract resources from outside, including Japan, in capital and technology.
Clearly, Vietnam-Japan relations will continue to develop. The two countries consider each other development opportunities and share common interests in various fields. In “Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year 2013″ celebrating the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have sponsored many events deepening friendly bonds between the two peoples. With current development, political trust and joint efforts, Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership will be deepened and broadened bringing more profit for the two peoples and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
Dang Minh Khoi
Director General, North East Asia Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Đăng ký: VietNam News
