Japan highly values and would continue to collaborate and support Vietnam's development in the future, Yoshihide affirmed Tuesday, according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In response, Phuc said Vietnam has always regarded Japan as an important, foremost and long-lasting strategic partner and highly values Japan's effective and practical cooperation in Vietnam's socio-economic development, including the non-refundable ¥200 million aid.

Phuc has requested Japan to supply Covid-19 vaccine doses for Vietnamese, and to also support the Vietnamese community in Japan amid the pandemic.

Yoshihide said Japan would support Vietnam to help it secure the necessary amount of vaccines and continue to support Vietnamese apprentices in Japan.

The country would also provide Vietnam with marine vessels for research purposes and would launch a Japan Consulate General in Da Nang in 2022, he added.

Phuc said he highly valued the fact Yoshihide had chosen Vietnam as a destination in his first overseas trip as Japanese prime minister in October 2020, and that he was happy to see the strong and comprehensive development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship.

Both leaders said Vietnam and Japan would cooperate to deploy the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and cooperate at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations and ASEAN.

Anh Ngoc