Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu on Monday suggested Japan and Vietnam soon discuss gradual resumption of travel between the two countries, the official VGP News reported.

The travel easing was mentioned during Motegi’s 30-minute phone call to Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, which was the pair’s second phone conversation in two months.

According to the Japanese foreign minister, the travel reconnection is intended for business managers and experts in order to restart bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties.

Earlier the same day, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Yoshihide Suga also underlined the importance of considering resumption of travel between countries, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Suga said his country would keep a close watch on the disease’s developments across the world and carefully consider the easing of entry bans on specific groups from each country, as well as related procedures.

Regarding the entry relaxation, Japanese media have recently reported that their government is likely to include Vietnam in the list of four countries that can be exempted from entry restrictions in the first phase, together with Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Japanese government has planned to provide relevant specific information by mid-June.

During Monday’s phone talk, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi and his Vietnamese counterpart also discussed responses to novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and ways to foster cooperation between the two countries in the future.

Both sides briefed each other on recent outcomes in the fight against COVID-19 and agreed to work closely together to strengthen bilateral exchanges and economic cooperation.

Minh spoke highly of the Japanese government’s efforts in containing the pandemic, expressing thanks for the assistance of the government and people of Japan in Vietnam’s COVID-19 combat as well as the financial support for foreign nationals, including Vietnamese students, in the East Asian nation.

Meanwhile, Motegi congratulated Vietnam on its impressive success in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been widely recognized by the global community.

He expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese government and people for their support for Japan’s battle against the pandemic.

Apart from the previously announced assistance, Japan will continue to provide medical supplies to Vietnam to help curb COVID-19, Motegi said.

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