Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong received the Japanese Prime Minister’s special envoy Kentaro Sonoura, who is also a member of the House of Representatives, in Hanoi on November 5.

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives the Japanese Prime Minister’s special envoy Kentaro Sonoura in Hanoi on November 5. (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, Sonoura handed over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s letter of congratulations to the chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam on his election as President of Vietnam.

In the letter, PM Abe expressed his belief that under the leadership of Party General Secretary and President Trong, Vietnam will continue developing prosperously. He also wished to continue his close cooperation with the Vietnamese leader to help the Japan-Vietnam extensive strategic partnership grow in a result-oriented and comprehensive manner.

The Vietnamese leader thanked Japanese King Akihito for offering his congratulations and PM Abe for sending a special envoy to deliver the letter.

He expressed his delight at the comprehensive, strong, and practical expansion of the extensive strategic partnership, affirming that the Vietnamese Party and State have always and will continue to treasure its relations with Japan.

General Secretary and President Trong appreciated Japan’s effective cooperation and assistance in various fields, while also applauding the two sides’ coordination in holding various meaningful activities to mark the 45^th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties throughout the year.

The Vietnamese leader asked the two sides to maintain regular high-ranking visits and meetings so as to enhance political trust; promote economic connectivity through stronger ties in investment, trade, ODA provision, agriculture, and labour; boost locality-to-locality links; step up joint human resources training; and make connections between the countries’ development strategies.

The two nations should also intensify friendship between the Vietnamese and Japanese people, he added.

For his part, Sonoura thanked his host for the sentiment towards and respect for Japanese leaders. He emphasised that Japan highly values Vietnam’s recent development successes, as well as its role and active contributions to international and regional affairs.

The official affirmed that his country attaches special importance to its cooperation and friendship with Vietnam, and it will work hard to bring their extensive strategic partnership to a new stage of development./.

VNF/VNA