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Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man at the meeting. Source: VNA

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man said this at a meeting with the Vietnamese Consul General and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Fukuoka on December 7.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu reported to the Chairman of the National Assembly and the delegation that amid the growing cooperation and friendly exchanges between the two countries, the Embassy has made great efforts to handle a heavy workload.

The Embassy focuses on all areas of work, not only politics and diplomacy but also economics, labor, science, and technology, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges, said Hieu.

Economic diplomacy is a key priority and has yielded many positive results under the principle of "putting people and businesses first." The Embassy supports Vietnamese delegations visiting Japan and Japanese delegations visiting Vietnam, organizes seminars, and holds fairs for  Vietnamese products, he continued.

Hieu added that the Embassy also prioritizes promoting cultural diplomacy under the motto, "Where there are Vietnamese people, there are Vietnamese festivals," organizing major festivals in various localities.

Notably, the Embassy has been active in assisting and protecting citizens and facilitating administrative procedures for Vietnamese nationals.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man emphasized that Vietnam and Japan share a long-standing traditional friendship. In 2023, the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

The official visit to Japan aims to deepen bilateral relations, bringing the Vietnam-Japan partnership into a new, more effective, and substantive phase across various fields, Man said.

Updating the community on key developments in Vietnam, Chairman Tran Thanh Man noted that while  2024 faces significant challenges, including severe human and material losses from Typhoon No. 3 (international name: Yagi), Vietnam's macroeconomy remains stable, inflation is under control, and social welfare is ensured. GDP growth for the year is estimated at 7%, with all 15 socio-economic targets achieved or exceeded. External relations have been strengthened, and Vietnam's international standing and reputation have improved. Efforts to combat corruption and waste will continue, with no exceptions.

However, the Chairman acknowledged three major bottlenecks facing the country, with institutional reform being the "bottleneck of bottlenecks."

Delegates at the meeting.

The Chairman affirmed that the National Assembly is focused on addressing institutional issues. He highlighted that during the 8th session, the National Assembly passed the amended Public Investment Law, a "one law amending four laws" for investment, and a "one law amending nine laws" for finance and budgeting.

The National Assembly also approved resolutions on major investment projects, including the North-South high-speed railway with a total capital of about $67 billion and the revival of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man acknowledged and appreciated the efforts and contributions of the Ambassador and Embassy staff in strengthening Vietnam-Japan relations, and expressed his hope that the Embassy team will continue to unite and strive to fulfill their assigned tasks. He reaffirmed that the Party, State, and National Assembly always prioritize supporting and creating favorable conditions for Vietnam’s overseas missions to function effectively.

In April, the National Assembly Standing Committee agreed to amend Decree 08/2019/ND-CP, issued on January 23, 2019, to improve the remuneration of members of Vietnam’s overseas agencies.

Looking ahead, Chairman Tran Thanh Man urged the Ambassador and Embassy staff to strengthen unity, and responsibility, and continuously enhance their professional skills to meet the growing demands of deep international integration. He stressed the need to adhere to the Party and State's foreign policy, fulfill the goals set by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and further strengthen the Vietnam-Japan friendship.

The Chairman also reminded the Embassy staff to coordinate the implementation of Vietnam-Japan parliamentary diplomacy and to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in Japan by addressing issues related to residency, livelihood, business, and education.