Vietnam has agreed to let Japan open a consular office in the central city of Da Nang after a meeting between the countries’ top diplomats this week.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh met Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu in Hanoi on Monday as part of the latter’s official visit to the Southeast Asian country from January 5 to 7.

The host said the Vietnamese government has approved Japan’s proposal for opening a consular office in Da Nang.

Japan has an embassy in Hanoi and a consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City.

Minh proposed that the Japanese government in return simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens.

Both sides agreed to partner in receiving workers and trainees and removing unhealthy labor and student brokerage firms so as to ensure legal Vietnamese workers’ legitimate rights in Japan.

They agreed to further enhance political trust via maintaining regular visits, exchanges and dialogues at all levels while bringing into full play the efficiency of the existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms.

Regarding the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, the two officials consented on the importance of ensuring peace, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, they held a ceremony to exchange diplomatic notes on water drainage and wastewater treatment projects in the northern city of Ha Long, and on dioxin and environment analysis equipment worth US$2.7 million as a non-refundable aid.

The Japanese foreign minister also joined talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the same day.

During the conversation, Minister Motegi affirmed his country’s commitment to cooperating closely with and supporting Vietnam to fulfill the roles of the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

He also thanked PM Phuc for his attention to the removal of difficulties facing bilateral cooperation, including Japan’s official development assistance and projects in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese premier asked the Japanese government to further reinforce the two economies’ connectivity, encourage Japanese firms to continue expanding operations in Vietnam, and create favorable conditions for agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam to access the Japanese market.

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