Japan, Vietnam to cooperate for early effectuation of TPP 11

May 5, 2018

Hanoi- Visiting Japanese ruling party executive Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc have confirmed close bilateral cooperation for an early entry into force of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord among their countries and nine other nations.

The 11 nations, also including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, signed the TPP in March.

At a meeting in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi on Friday, Kishida, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Policy Research Council, and Phuc also exchanged views on the situation in the South China Sea, where China is increasingly assertive.

Japan is the most trustworthy long-term partner for the stability and development of the region, Phuc said.

Kishida and Phuc also discussed the North Korean situation. In talks with reporters after the meeting, Kishida said, "I explained Japan's stance (on issues related to North Korea), and Prime Minister Phuc showed understanding for our position." Jiji Press