NA leader meets Friendship Association leader and Vietnamese community representatives in Japan

The association was first established in 2008 and has implemented many practical exchange and co-operation activities between localities of the two countries such as promoting nature and water environment conservation activities in Soc Trang, Quang Nam, and Can Tho; advising, participating in delegations of the administration and economic, cultural, and educational organisations of Nagasaki Prefecture visiting Vietnam; and supporting Vietnamese students studying in Nagasaki, Tomioka told the Vietnamese NA leader.

He also shared information regarding the projects that the association is implementing in the medical field such as diagnosis, medical care, techniques, and technology for cancer treatment.

NA Chairman Man showed his elation at meeting Tomioka and members of the association during his first official visit to Japan as Chairman of the NA. He thanked and appreciated the association's co-operation activities with Vietnam over recent times.

The friendly ties between the two countries are seeing strong development with high political trust, and can be viewed as a bridge to promote local collaboration efforts, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges more deeply.

All-around linkages between the nation and Nagasaki Prefecture, especially in the fields of economics, investment, local exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges, have continued to develop positively, making practical contributions to promoting the close ties that exists between both sides, he went on to say.

He emphasised that the Vietnamese community in Japan has become the second largest foreign community with nearly 600,000 people, actively contributing to Japanese socio-economic development.

The top legislator went on to stress that Vietnam has encouraged and created favourable conditions for Nagasaki Prefecture to expand exchanges and co-operation with Vietnamese localities in a bid to promote the long-standing traditional relationship, thereby bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

NA Chairman Man therefore suggested that the Nagasaki – Vietnam Friendship Association continue to pay attention to mobilising and urging local authorities to organise more cultural and people-to-people exchange activities; actively support the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Nagasaki Prefecture; support, assist, and actively participate in activities of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka.

The same day, the NA leader, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of the NA met with staff of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, the Vietnamese community in Japan currently has more than 600,000 people who are living and working in all 47 prefectures and cities across Japan. It is therefore the second largest foreign community in the country. There are now over 50 associations of Vietnamese people in Japan, which are working as important bridges in mutual relations.

Representatives of associations and the Vietnamese community therefore expressed their hope that the country will promote legal support for Vietnamese people abroad, step up digital transformation, and improve the overall competitiveness of Vietnamese enterprises in Japan.

NA Chairman Man said that his visit is designed to continue carrying out the Party's foreign policy of proactively and actively consolidating and expanding the foundation of political relations, whilst also promoting effective and substantive ties between the two countries in various fields.

Informing participants about the domestic situation, the NA leader said that although the country has faced numerous difficulties and challenges this year, especially the heavy losses in human lives and property caused by typhoon Yagi, the macro-economy has been stabilised, inflation has been controlled, and social security has been ensured.

According to the top legislator, Vietnamese gross domestic product (GDP) growth is estimated at 7% for the whole year, whilst 15 out of 15 socio-economic targets have been achieved and exceeded. Foreign affairs have also been promoted. Indeed, the nation’s position and prestige in the international arena has duly been raised. The work of preventing and combating corruption, waste, and negative phenomena has been given attention and there are no forbidden areas. Currently, the country is actively making preparations to successfully organise the 14th National Party Congress, which will also mark the beginning of a new era, an era of national development.

However, he also pointed out that the country is facing three bottlenecks in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources. Affirming that the NA is focusing on resolving institutional bottlenecks, NA Chairman Man said that at the recent eighth session, the legislature passed a total of 18 laws and 21 resolutions, including the Law on Public Investment (amended), "one law amending four laws" on investment, and "one law amending nine laws" on finance and budget. The NA also approved resolutions on the investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project with a total capital of roughly US$67 billion and restarting the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.

The NA Chairman also acknowledged and commended the achievements of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka over recent times, particularly as it has a small workforce but has to manage a large area. He therefore expressed hope that the officials and staff of the Consulate General will continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, make efforts, and overcome any difficulties to successfully complete assigned tasks. This will be done whilst meeting increasingly high requirements in the period of deep international integration.

Appreciating the contributions made by the Vietnamese community in Japan over recent times, NA Chairman Man outlined his hope that the community would continue to promote the spirit of solidarity, mutual support, and comply with the laws of the host country. He stressed that the consistent policy of the Party and State is always to care for the Vietnamese community abroad, which must be considered an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation.

On the occasion, the top lawmaker, his spouse, and delegation paid floral tribute to the victims of the Nagasaki atomic bomb at the Peace Park and visited the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.

After visiting the exhibition spaces, NA Chairman Man wrote in the guestbook: "Vietnam is a peace-loving nation and always wishes that peoples around the world will work together towards peace, prosperity, and development together".