2021年及びそれ前後の日越関係の展開

抄録

In the previous papers of this Journal no.22 (March 2014), no.31 (March 2018), no.41 (March 2021), no.42 (Oct 2021) and no.44 (March 2022) the author discussed the development of bilateral relations between Japan and Vietnam from 2002 to 2013, from 2014 to 2015, from 2016 to 2017, from 2018 to 2019 and from 2020 to 2021 respectively.

Following them, this article discusses the development of Japan–Vietnam relations in and around 2021.

The First Section of this paper briefly overviews the COVID-19 pandemics in Vietnam and Japan throughout 2021.

The Second section summarizes Prime Minister Suga’s general policy speech and Foreign Minister Motegi’s foreign policy speech, in January 2021 National Diet, concerning Japan–ASEAN relations.

The Third Section overviews online meetings between Japanese and Vietnamese leaders in 2021.

The Fourth Section overviews online meetings between Japanese and ASEAN leaders and between Japanese and Mekong countries’ leaders in 2021.

The Fifth Section describes Defense Minister Kishi’s visit to Vietnam and the signing of the Agreement concerning the transfer of military equipment and technology between Japan and Vietnam in September 2021. And relating to the Agreement, the author looks back various documents concerning the defense cooperation between the two countries.

The Sixth Section discusses the Japan–Vietnam summit meeting during Prime Minister Kishida’s stay in Glasgow UK to attend the COP 26 summit in November 2021.

The Seventh Section describes Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visit of Japan, three weeks after the summit meeting mentioned above. Especially the author gives detailed accounts concerning the summit meeting between Premier Kishida and Premier Chinh, their joint statement, the signing of various cooperation documents, and their joint press announcement. Furthermore, relating to the Japan–Vietnam investment conference with Premier Chinh’s attendance, the author also briefly overviews the past similar business conferences and exchanges.

The Eighth Section refers to the Exchange of Notes concerning the Japanese grant to Vietnam (a used ocean research vessel) in April 2021, together with the trace-back overview concerning the Japanese supports for Vietnamese ocean management since 2014.

The Ninth Section deals with the temporary closure of Japanese consular office in Danang due to the COVID-19 pandemic from May to September 2021.

The Tenth Section focuses on the eighth batch of EPA nurse/care worker candidates’ entry to Japan in September 2021, together with a brief survey of the past agreements concerning the EPA nurse/care worker candidates and the number of their arrival in Japan and successful applicants of national examinations from the first to the eleventh batches.

The Eleventh Section discusses about the Eighth Phase of Japan Vietnam Joint Initiative from the kickoff meeting (in October 2021) to the final evaluation meeting (in March 2023), together with the brief trace-back from the First Phase (2003–2005) to the Seventh Phase (2018–2019).