Deputy PM Meets Foreign Officials in Tokyo to Boost Cooperation in Energy and Environment

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (R) receives Philippine Secretary of Energy Raphael Perpetuo M. Lotilla. Photo: VNA

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Philippine Secretary of Energy Raphael Perpetuo M. Lotilla on March 4, according to VNA.

In the context that the two countries are responding to challenges related to the Bien Dong Sea, energy security, climate change, and natural disasters, Ha reiterated Vietnam’s backing of the Philippines’ stance on climate change response as stated at the AZEC Ministerial Meeting.

He proposed the two nations promote bilateral cooperation and cooperation within the AZEC framework, such as the building of a research center on renewable energy or a disaster warning center in Vietnam or the Philippines, adding that those cooperation programs give practical benefits for both sides.

Raphael Lotilla assessed Vietnam as one of the countries leading Southeast Asia in terms of the energy transition.

Agreeing with Vietnam’s stance that initiatives within the AZEC framework need to be concretized by practical and effective projects, he suggested the two sides focus efforts on the field of renewable energy in the coming time.

Through the current success of a joint venture between Vietnam and the Philippines in a solar energy project, the two sides can expand cooperation in building an electricity transmission network or production of energy storage batteries which are now major barriers for most countries in the transition to clean and green energy.

The two sides also agreed to continue sharing experience, further promote bilateral cooperation mechanisms in various fields, and closely coordinate regional and international cooperation mechanisms, especially those related to sustainable development goals.

Deputy PM Ha meets with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and prominent Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan. Photo: VGP

On the same day, Deputy PM Ha met with officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and prominent Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan.

At the meeting, Vietnamese scientists in Japan gave reports on several topics such as Japan’s green growth and carbon neutral strategies and some technologies helping reduce CO2 emissions and ensuring energy security in the country.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha (L) meets with Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki in Tokyo on March 3. Photo: VNA

Previous, on March 3, Ha met with Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki, Chairman of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi, and the parliamentarians in charge of environmental issues of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

Talking to Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki, Deputy PM Ha said the two countries’ relationship is now at its prime, and that Vietnam wishes to join Japan in further strengthening their extensive strategic partnership.

The year 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and it’s a suitable time for them to boost exchanges between the countries’ governments, parliaments, young parliamentarians, women parliamentarians, localities, and people, he noted.

He asked his host to promote the Japanese Government’s assistance for Vietnam in the development of strategic infrastructure, human resources development, science and technology, and innovation, as well as for the nearly 500,000 Vietnamese to live, study, and work in the Northeast Asian nation.

Hosoda stressed Vietnam is an important partner of Japan, and that the two countries share many common interests and hold much potential for development.

The House of Representatives of Japan supports stronger cooperation between the two countries in all fields, he noted, expressing his hope for increased bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Japanese businesses highly value the skillfulness and industriousness of the Vietnamese community in Japan and want to receive more high-quality engineers and workers from Vietnam. There is also much room for promoting energy partnerships, according to the Speaker.

At the meeting with the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, Deputy PM Ha appreciated the contributions by the alliance and its chairman to bilateral economic, cultural, tourism, and locality-to-locality ties.

He asked the alliance to continue supporting all-level exchanges, boost tourism links, and promote the Japanese Government’s simplification of procedures for granting visas for Vietnamese tourists to help facilitate people-to-people exchange.

Nikai affirmed that the alliance will do its utmost to develop bilateral cooperation more substantively.

He also informed about a plan to lead a delegation of Japanese parliamentarians and businesses on a visit to Vietnam this year, suggested a “Vietnam – Japan forest” be planted in the Southeast Asian country as a lasting symbol of relations, and agreed to support tourism cooperation.

The meeting between Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha and Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi in Tokyo on March 3. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, when being received by the Vietnamese Deputy PM, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura thanked Ha for his participation in the AZEC Ministerial Meeting.

He emphasized that Japan considers Vietnam an important partner to jointly implementing the AZEC initiative and hopes to join Vietnam and other participating countries in actively discussing and promoting cooperation to achieve the emission reduction target on the basis of trust and fairness.

In response, Ha said sending a delegation to the meeting reflects Vietnam’s efforts toward the goal and support for the Japanese Government’s initiatives and policies in building the Asia community toward carbon emission reduction, and in ensuring energy security and sustainable development.

He held that the parties involved should have a realistic assessment and choose feasible and suitable solutions.

There is a need to cooperate in research on technology and a participation mechanism for the government and the private sector as well as to determine financial sources to implement the AZEC joint declaration in member countries, including Vietnam, Ha suggested.

At his meeting with Japanese parliamentarians in charge of the environment sector, the Deputy PM asked them to support the Japanese Government in offering financial assistance to and sharing the experience with Vietnam in the areas of climate change response and low-emission development.

He proposed the lawmakers persuade Japanese enterprises to invest in and transfer technology to Vietnam in high technology, new energy, green transition, and digital transformation.

The parliamentarians pledged their efforts to enhance the countries’ relations in the environment field and join works at regional and international forums and cooperation mechanisms.