Japan’s policy towards Vietnam unchanged with new leadership: expert

Japan’s policy towards Vietnam will basically remain unchanged even when the Eat Asian country has a new leadership.

Japan’s policy towards Vietnam will basically remain unchanged even when the Eat Asian country has a new leadership.

The affirmation was made by Ryokichi Motoyoshi, former Secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the eve of a meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to elect its new president on September 29.

Motoyoshi, who is also a legal advisor for Vietnamese in Japan, laid emphasis on the trustworthy relationship between the two countries, with substantial potential for cooperation.

Before Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide visited Vietnam in October last year, the world had seen changes in supply chains, prompting many Japanese firms to move their production to Vietnam, he said.

In addition, Vietnamese now account for the largest ratio among foreign labourers in Japan.

After taking office last year, Suga selected Vietnam for his first overseas trip. The visit has contributed to promoting Japan’s image among Vietnamese, Motoyoshi said.

He recalled that when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Japan, Vietnam presented face masks and other medical supplies to the country, and later, Japan provided Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccines. Motoyoshi described the mutual support as a vivid demonstration of the trustworthy relationship between the two countries.

According to the expert, the bilateral ties will grow stronger across spheres after the two countries bring the pandemic under control.

Japan has faced a shortage of workforce so it needs a large number of guest workers, particularly those from Vietnam, he said, noting that the cooperation in this field will further develop in the time ahead./.

VNA