(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
Today, commencing at 8:15 a.m., I held the Japan-Viet Nam Defense Ministerial Meeting for approximately 90 minutes. The meeting was held in person with the Viet Nam Minister of National Defence, General Giang. At the meeting, we first exchanged views on the regional situation. Moreover, we concurred that we will further advance Japan-Viet Nam defense cooperation and exchanges in the future in a wide range of fields, including high-level exchanges, defense equipment and technology cooperation, capacity building, and educational exchanges, based on the bilateral relationship that was elevated to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” at the summit meeting held at the end of last year. Furthermore, we welcomed the recent signing of the Memorandum of Implementation (MOI) and Letter of Arrangement (LOA) concerning the provision of decommissioned material handling vehicles from Japan to Viet Nam as the first case of defense equipment transfer since the signing of the Agreement concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology between the two countries. After the meeting, we also held the exchange ceremony of the two documents with Minister Giang. Based on this meeting, we aim to further deepen defense cooperation bilaterally with Viet Nam, as well as multilaterally, including between Japan and ASEAN.