Vietnam expresses support for Abe’s Indo-Pacific strategy

November 8, 2017

Da Nang, Vietnam- Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Tuesday expressed support for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's strategy aimed at achieving stability and growth in the Indo-Pacific region from Asia to Africa.

Minh, who doubles as deputy prime minister, clarified his country's position at a meeting here with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

Kono showed gratitude for Minh's remark.

The two ministers agreed to strengthen cooperation between their countries in the field of maritime security partly through the supply of new patrol ships from Japan to Vietnam.

Kono stressed that now is the time for the international community to thoroughly implement sanctions on North Korea, which continues nuclear and ballistic missile provocations, based on relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions. Minh said that Vietnam will follow the sanctions resolutions.

Kono is visiting Da Nang, central Vietnam, to attend a ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Kono held bilateral meetings also with ministers from Australia, Brunei and Papua New Guinea.

Kono and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed that Japan and Australia will cooperate in maritime security in Asia and Africa in line with the Indo-Pacific strategy proposed by Abe.

They also agreed to work closely to resolve North Korean issues, including the reclusive nation's abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago.

In talks with Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Lim Jock Seng, Kono offered to support the Southeast Asian nation's efforts to diversify its economy.

Lim said that Brunei hopes to further strengthen its relations with Japan, including through cooperation for its economic diversification.

Kono and Lim shared the view that the international society needs to increase pressure on North Korea, while affirming the importance of an early solution to the abduction issue. Jiji Press