(MPI) - On the afternoon of July 30, 2024, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung had a working session with Mr. Yamada Takio, Ambassador in charge of the Asian Zero Net Emissions Community Initiative of the Government of Japan (AZEC) and advisor to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Also attending the meeting were Mr. ITO Naoki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam and members of the working delegation. On the side of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, there were representatives of leaders of relevant units.

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung and Mr. Yamada Takio at the working session. Photo: MPI

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Yamada Takio expressed his joy and gratitude for the warm welcome of Minister Nguyen Chi Dung; at the same time, he emphasized that Vietnam is an important partner for Japan in general and the AZEC Initiative in particular. At the same time, he said that AZEC plays an important role in promoting innovation, supporting implementation, building a transparent, flexible, and strong supply chain, promoting development and coordinating policies on energy transition. AZEC is a support framework with many options that are economically effective and highly feasible. The important factor of AZEC is that in addition to reducing emissions, it also sets goals for economic growth, ensuring energy security; energy transition, and implementing the commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Mr. Yamada Takio appreciated Vietnam's interest in implementing the goal of green growth and sustainable development; affirmed that Japan is always ready to cooperate and support Vietnam in green development. Mr. Yamada Takio also provided information about the expected organization of the Ministerial Conference and the AZEC Summit this year and said that the Conference hopes to provide directions for promoting AZEC; the parties will discuss ways to promote specific bilateral projects, including Vietnam's projects; especially the improvement of institutions, the development of regulations and rules to move towards the common goal of a zero emission community.

Welcoming Mr. Yamada Takio and the delegation to visit and work at the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Minister Nguyen Chi Dung expressed his belief that with his experience, Mr. Yamada Takio will make many important contributions to the AZEC Initiative, contributing to further promoting the Vietnam - Japan cooperation relationship in the coming time.

Overview of the working session. Photo: MPI

The Minister expressed his agreement and appreciation for the information shared and said that Vietnam is shifting its growth model, restructuring its economy, and developing sustainably towards a green economy and a clean economy, committing to achieving net emissions of “0” by 2050. Vietnam has developed a national strategy on green growth for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and an action plan to implement this Strategy. Accordingly, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant ministries and sectors are making efforts to implement the tasks identified in the Strategy and Plan to achieve the overall goal of economic prosperity, environmental sustainability, and social equity; towards a green, carbon-neutral economy and contributing to the goal of limiting global temperature rise.

Vietnam welcomes and highly appreciates the AZEC Initiative; affirms that it will actively participate and be a reliable partner of AZEC. To realize the set goals, Vietnam is developing an action plan for the AZEC working group and hopes that the Japanese Government as well as AZEC will continue to accompany and support Vietnam.

Minister Nguyen Chi Dung suggested that the working group promoting AZEC/Green Transition (GX) of Vietnam and AZEC need to coordinate closely, discuss the progress of each project and related key issues; discuss solutions and take necessary actions, integrate programs, projects, and policies of both sides to both implement Vietnam's Green Growth Strategy and participate in AZEC effectively. In the immediate future, it is necessary to focus on effectively implementing AZEC projects in Vietnam; support policy development, technical assistance to implement the project; find green financial sources, support technology transfer, human resource training, transfer of experience and skills in sustainable energy transition.

At the meeting, the two sides focused on exchanging and discussing specific contents to promote projects within the framework of AZEC in Vietnam. The effectively implemented projects are of great significance in contributing to promoting the Vietnam - Japan cooperation relationship, especially in the context of implementing the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative in the new era./.

Tung Linh

Ministry of Planning and Investment