Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong is set to deliver a speech at the National Diet of Japan during his upcoming visit to Japan next week, Pham Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday afternoon.

The National Diet of Japan is the name of the country’s legislature.

President Thuong and his spouse will pay an official visit to Japan between November 27 and 30 at the invitation of the Japanese state.

This will be his first Japan visit since assuming power in March this year and the fourth by a Vietnamese state president since the two countries established their diplomatic ties in 1973.

The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties and the ninth anniversary of their extensive strategic partnership.

The bilateral ties have developed strongly across the board while high-level and all-level delegation exchanges were bolstered.

Japan remains Vietnam's leading economic partner, biggest provider of official development assistance loans, fourth-largest trade partner, second-largest partner in terms of labor affairs, and third-biggest one in terms of investment and tourism.

Cooperation activities among Vietnamese and Japanese localities were also facilitated, with nearly 100 pairs of localities forming twinning relationships and cooperation ties.

During the visit, President Thuong will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, meet with the Japanese emperor and his empress, as well as high-ranking officials of Japan.

He will also attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

At the press briefing, the spokesperson was requested to make comments on the prospect of the Vietnam-Japan relations following President Thuong’s visit.

The diplomat affirmed that the visit by President Thuong, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation takes place at a time when the two nations celebrate a significant milestone in their bilateral relations.

Over the last year, both sides have organized a series of events, including the upcoming Japan visit by Thuong, in celebration of their 50-year diplomatic ties.

The visit is expected to help deepen the political, diplomatic, economic, trade, and investment relations between both countries, Hang said.

Also, the visit will enable both sides to beef up cooperation in new fields such as green transition, innovation, and digital transformation to consolidate their relations for the sake of peace, cooperation, and development.

Hang added that the possibility of the two countries elevating their partnership to a new level during the visit has recently attracted media attention.

She stressed that Vietnam remains persistent in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, multilateralization, diversification of international relations, active international integration, and being a friend, trusted partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam wishes to develop cooperation ties with all partners including Japan on a win-win basis and for the sake of their peoples’ interests, contributing to global and regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development, she added.

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