Vietnam, Japan Hold Third EPA Negotiation

Vietnam and Japan went to the third round of economic partnership agreement (EPA) talks in Tokyo June 6, which will boost bilateral trade, tourism, and science and technology cooperation between the two countries, state media said Thursday.

 

The two sides had frank discussions on goods, services, and hygiene and technical standards at this negotiation.

 

Japanese chief negotiator Jun Yokota, Ambassador for Economic and International Trade Affairs of the Japanese Foreign Ministry said the three rounds of discussion between the two countries were very valuable despite some differences. Japan will try its utmost to achieve progress in negotiation, he added.

 

Jun Yokota said after the first two rounds of talks and Vietnam’s proposals in the second round, Japan better understands Vietnam’s expectations for the EPA.

The Vietnamese chief negotiator, Deputy Trade Minister Phan The Rue, said the EPA negotiation process had entered an important stage, and expressed hope that the two sides would accelerate the pace of negotiations to sign an EPA as soon as possible.

 

Vietnam and Japan conducted the first round of EPA talks in Tokyo January 16 this year, and the second in Hanoi March 26. The first discussed an approach to agreement negotiation principles, and the second talked about specific content of the agreement.

 

During the recent Japan visit by Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem May 22-27, the two governments also vowed to accelerate EPA negotiations. (People’s Army, Liberated Saigon)