Vietnam president to visit Japan as countries discuss stronger ties

Vietnam’s president, Vo Van Thuong, will go to Japan subsequent week, a Vietnamese overseas ministry spokesperson mentioned on Thursday, as the 2 nations focus on strengthening their relations.

Nearer ties would verify Vietnam’s more and more strategic function as an essential hyperlink in international provide chains amid commerce pressure between China and the West, which helps to deliver overseas funding to the southeast Asian nation as some corporations relocate operations from China.

The elevation of ties with Japan would observe Vietnam’s historic improve of relations with the US in September, when the previous foes signed a number of cooperation agreements, together with on semiconductors and significant minerals.

It could even be adopted by a go to to Hanoi by China’s President Xi Jinping, who in line with officers and diplomats, may journey to Vietnam in December and agree on a joint assertion indicating the 2 nations share a typical future.

Thuong’s go to from Monday to Thursday subsequent week is his first to Japan as president and coincides with celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of ties between the Asian nations.

Vietnam classifies Japan as a strategic associate, one notch under China, Russia, South Korea, India and the US.

Japan is Vietnam’s third-largest supply of overseas funding and its fourth-largest buying and selling associate.

A number of Japanese multinationals have huge factories within the southeast Asian manufacturing hub, together with Canon, Honda, Panasonic and Bridgestone.

Talks a few attainable diplomatic improve have been happening for months with officers discussing attainable cooperation agreements, diplomats mentioned.

It isn’t clear whether or not an improve can be introduced throughout Thuong’s go to or later.

“The go to will contribute to deepening relations between the 2 nations in commerce, funding and the financial system,” Vietnam’s overseas ministry spokesperson instructed a information convention, declining to remark a few attainable improve.