Prime minister nguyen xuan phuc

The Hanoitimes – Suga continues the predecessor’s foreign policy which is based on the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Japan’s Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide is planning to visit Vietnam and Indonesia around mid-October, Nikkei Asia has reported.

Japan has traditionally emphasized ties with Vietnam. Source photos by Reuters and Nikkei

It will be Suga’s first overseas trip since taking office earlier this month.

Mr. Suga would not make the final decision on whether to travel until after examining the coronavirus status at home and in the destinations. Vietnam has succeeded in containing the pandemic after going more than three weeks without locally-transmitted cases.

He is expected to focus on resuming international travel at talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Japan is already in talks with Vietnam about easing restrictions on business travel between the countries which have already reopened borders to expatriates.

Mr. Suga also wants to coordinate efforts with Vietnam and Indonesia regarding the South China Sea, as US-China military and economic tensions continue to heat up, Nikkei Asia reported, adding that Japan will likely try to appeal to ASEAN partners about securing regional stability in a bid to curb China’s growing regional ambitions.

The new Japanese prime minister is continuing the foreign policy of his predeccesor Abe Shinzo, which is based on the concept of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.” It aims to strengthen deterrence against China by advocating the importance of democracy and other values, like the rule of law.

Vietnam and Indonesia are known for their friendly ties with Tokyo and Japan has traditionally emphasized its relationship with the two Southeast Asian countries.

After inaugurating his second administration in 2012, Mr. Abe also picked up these two nations for his first overseas trip.

This year, Vietnam is ASEAN chair while Indonesia is a member of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies.

Right after the election of Japan’s new cabinet, Hanoi said it wished to enhance the relationship with Japan to take the comprehensive and substantive strategic partnership to a new height.

International experts believe that whoever succeeds Abe Shinzo, Vietnam and Japan have ample reasons to widen and deepen their cooperation across a host of domains.

The Hanoitimes – During his two terms as Japan’s Prime Minister, Mr. Abe has visited Vietnam at least four times and helped strengthen the Japan-Vietnam relations.

Vietnam wishes Prime Minister Abe Shinzo good health and happiness, said Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hours after Mr. Abe announced his resignation due to health problems.

PM Abe Shinzo and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc walk in Hoi An town in Quang Nam province, November 11, 2017 when he visited Vietnam to attend the APEC summit. Photo: VNA

Mr. Abe, who just four days ago set a record of staying in power for 2,799 consecutive days, will leave office, ending his nearly eight-year stint as Japan’s longest-serving leader due to a flare-up of his chronic intestinal disease.

Market Focus Vietnam webinar

Le Linh Lan, Ambassador of Vietnam to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, said at a Market Focus Vietnam webinar last week that Swiss investors with comparative advantages and strengths in tech, innovation, capital, and expertise in finance, pharmaceuticals, and food manufacturing will look more to Vietnam as a safe and attractive destination for doing business in a post-pandemic world.

“In addition, there is still potential in areas of trade and investment given the complementary nature of the two economies,” Lan added.

Switzerland, as a member of the European Free Trade Area, has been in negotiation with Vietnam for a far-reaching free trade agreement (FTA) since 2012.

“Negotiations between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have completed their 16th round,” Lan said. “We are hopeful about the possibility of the conclusion of the trade deal especially this year, when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two economies. An early conclusion of the FTA between Vietnam and the EFTA will give a big boost to economic and trade relations.”

With forthcoming conclusion of the FTA, Swiss companies can enjoy similar benefits as their EU peers under the provisions of the EU-Vietnam agreements, which entered into force last year.

Indeed, more Swiss businesses are exploring investments in Vietnam. Last November, a group of Swiss and German investors paid a working visit to Vietnam. Former German Vice Chancellor Philipp Rösler led the delegation, meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and leaders of a number of ministries. Business leaders decided to invest $350 million in the healthcare sector, tech start-ups, and notably a tourist resort in the southern island of Phu Quoc.

Last week, the non-profit Swiss Vietnamese Business Gateway (SVBG) also made its official debut to promote investment and trade cooperation between Swiss and Vietnamese companies. The SVBG, founded by Vietnamese expatriates in Switzerland, will pave the way for more Swiss investors to join the market by providing updated information and legal consultations and guidance, as well as introducing quality human resources.

Swiss companies such as Nestlé, Roche, Holcim, and Schindler were among the first to set foot in Vietnam when the country opened up its economy in the 1990s. Today, more than 100 Swiss companies are operating in Vietnam. As of February 20, Switzerland is the 21st biggest investor in Vietnam with the total investment capital of around $1.77 billion.

Will Mackereth, supply chain director of Nestlé Vietnam said, “At the moment, 80 per cent of Nestlé products made in Vietnam is for domestic sale while 20 per cent goes to export. The success of the business in both the domestic market and export gives us a lot of optimism that we should see continued investment in Vietnam in both areas.”

Meanwhile, Axel Armellin-Nguyen, co-founder of The Happy Turtle Straw, explained why Vietnam is an ideal hub for foreign startups including those from Switzerland. Vietnam is one of the most dynamic countries with the growing trend of innovation and fintech solutions. The government is very supportive of innovation by offering many incentives like tax relief and providing facilities for startups.

The Happy Turtle Straw is now focusing on a green tech model by developing better biodegradable straws in Vietnam. Using sustainable potato and cassava starches in a process that’s 100-per-cent free of harmful chemicals, as well as being completely vegan and gluten-free, the company’s plant-based drinking straws are already making all the difference. Its straws have been used in assisting natural preservation initiatives in Vietnam caring for sea turtles, as well as making drinking water safer in Lebanon.

The Hanoitimes – Whoever succeeds Abe Shinzo, the two nations have ample reasons to widen and deepen their cooperation across a host of domains.

Vietnam wishes to enhance the relationship with Japan to take the strategic partnership to a new height, a spokesperson said after the election of Japan’s new cabinet.

Japan’s newly-elected Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. Photo: EPA

“Vietnam always attaches importance to the friendship with Japan and wishes to enhance the cooperation with the new PM and the new cabinet to take the comprehensive and substantive strategic partnership to a new height for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world,” Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Vietnam’s top leaders have sent messages of congratulation to Japan’s new cabinet members in a gesture to “appreciate the friendship with Japan”.

On September 16, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc congratulated Mr. Suga Yoshihide after the latter was elected as Japan’s new prime minister after his predecessor stepped down due to illness.

One day earlier, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong also sent a message of congratulations to Mr. Suga for winning the leadership of Japan’s ruling party Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also congratulated his Japanese counterpart for the position in the new cabinet.

Khang Vu, Hanoi born and raised PhD student at Boston College, said Abe is the most popular Japanese politician in Vietnam for his efforts to elevate the bilateral defense relations. His resignation will be felt across Vietnam.

Hanh Nguyen, who is taking an MA at International Christian University, Tokyo, writes for The Diplomat that whoever succeeds Abe Shinzo, the two nations have ample reasons to widen and deepen their cooperation across a host of domains.

There are good reasons to believe that Japan-Vietnam relations will continue on their present upward trajectory. Largely, the strong bilateral partnership has been born out of a shared concern about China’s waxing power and influence, she said.

Vietnam and Japan are in the extensive strategic partnership status. Since the establishment of the bilateral ties in 1973, Japan has supported Vietnam in three pillars namely trade, investment, and official development assistance (ODA).

Currently, Japan is the biggest ODA donor to Vietnam with US$27 billion.

The relationship covers fields such as security and defense, industrialization, agriculture, science-technology, education and training, culture, sports, tourism, environment, local-level exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Hanoitimes – The government’s main priority is to protect the well-being of Vietnamese people and foreigners living in the country, said a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There are no changes to current 14-day mandatory quarantine rules for those entering Vietnam at the moment, Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has stated.

There are no changes to current quarantine rules for those entering Vietnam at the moment.

“The government’s main priority is to protect the well-being of Vietnamese people and foreigners living in the country,” Hang said at a regular press conference on June 11.

Hang also briefed the press on the situation of 22 Vietnamese currently stranded in Nepal due to the Covid-19 crisis.

According to the Spokesperson, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Kathmandu is in frequent contact with these citizens to provide timely support if needed.

“Vietnam’s diplomatic missions are cooperating with local authorities to repatriate Vietnamese in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh in a near future,” Hang added.

On June 10, the Government Office released a directive of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc regarding the possibility of resuming international flights to certain countries and territories, including China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Laos, among others.

The directive requests these flights to fully comply with Covid-19 prevention and control protocol, avoiding risks of public transmission.

Meanwhile, the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control is tasked with announcing regions and countries that are deemed safe, which are based on the condition of having no new Covid-19 cases in the last 30 days.