Kishida Calls For Closer Tie With Vietnam To Respond To Ukrainian Conflict
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has called on his Vietnamese counterpart to unite in the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Kishida met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for about 90 minutes in Hanoi on Sunday.
At the outset of the talks, Kishida said that the world is at a crossroad in history regarding the foundation of the international order.
He said because of that, it is all the more important that he and Prime Minister Chinh work together to further strengthen cooperation between their countries.
He is believed to have told Chinh that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a clear violation of international law and that Japan will not tolerate a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force.
But getting Vietnam on board might be a challenge, as the country sometimes shows consideration for Russia's position. For instance, it abstained when the vote was taken on a UN resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
Kishida is also believed to have sought Vietnam's cooperation for realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law, to keep in check China's assertiveness in the East and South China Seas.