Strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership uniting Japan and Vietnam will contribute to perpetuating regional peace, stability, and prosperity.Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Hiroshi Fukuda highlighted the importance of the relationship in an interview about the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s trip to Japan.Vietnam-Japan relations in politics, economics, and culture have steadily ramified over the years since diplomatic ties were first established in 1973. When Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to a strategic partnership in 2006, the venerable friendship entered a new era. Japan recognises Vietnam as an important partner with similar perspectives on economic relations and regional issues of mutual concern. The two government leaders are eager to promote defence and security dialogues in the interests of a peaceful and stable region.The Japanese Ambassador believes both sides profit from their lucrative economic and trade links, promising direct Japanese investment in Vietnam, and Japan’s support for Vietnam’s economic development, will not abate in the foreseeable future.Fukuda said Vietnam’s national economy should respond and be shaped by domestic demand. He voiced his country’s willingness to assist Vietnam in training the high-quality human resources that can carry out economic restructuring and strengthen the market economy.Fukuda described the cultural and educational exchanges between the two nations as an indispensable part of their relationship. He acknowledged PM Shinzo Abe’s five diplomatic principles on preserving and developing Asian cultural diversity in collaboration with ASEAN.The principles will be elaborated at the upcoming ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit. Their two main pillars involve expanding cultural and art exchanges and supporting Japanese language education. Fukuda said these policies will deepen mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Japanese peoples.The Japanese diplomat recalled some of the 2013 Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year’s diverse celebrations of the two nations’ 40thanniversary of diplomatic ties.The year was kicked off by PM Shinzo Abe’s official visit to Vietnam. PM Dung’s Japanese trip concludes the successful year-long commemoration.Fukuda reiterated the significance of Vietnamese-Japanese cooperation at ASEAN and Mekong summits and regional and international forums—especially in a global context growing increasingly complex.VOV