Japanese media highlights Vietnamese PM’s remarks

 Japanese media carried stories highlighting remarks of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at conferences in Tokyo during his ongoing official visit to Japan from June 4-8.

The Sankei newspaper on June 5 underlined the PM’s speech at the opening ceremony of the investment promotion conference in Vietnam held by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

The PM said despite the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Vietnam still wants to cooperate with Japan to reach the destination.

He also called on Japanese businesses to strengthen investment in Vietnam.

The Nikkei newspaper said in his speech at the 23rd International Conference on The Future of Asia, PM Phuc expressed his disagreement over the arising protectionism in several countries.

Regarding security and stability in Asia, the PM urged "responsible conduct on the basis of equality, mutual respect [and the] rule of law.”

He also described globalisation as an inevitable trend and stressed the importance of pursuing free trade.

“Globalisation is not merely an economic process but it also reflects the desires of humankind to reach further, pursue well-being and conquer challenges,” he said.

The Nikkei Asian Review posted an interview with PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on its website under the title “Vietnam 'considering' options for TPP renegotiation, PM says”.

The article said “Vietnam is mulling which sections of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement can be renegotiated after the withdrawal of the US”.

"Vietnam has assigned the minister in charge of trade to discuss with other members [of the TPP] on the options for the way forward," he said on the sidelines of the annual Future of Asia conference in Tokyo. 

The goal, he added, is to find "a way to balance and harmonise the interests of the signatories."

As regards territorial disputes in the East Sea, he stressed "the shared responsibility of every country to maintain the peace in this region." 

The PM also called upon regional players to pursue "peace and friendship," "freedom of navigation" and the "rule of law."-VNA