Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) Masataka Fujita (Photo: VNA)

He made the statement in an exclusive interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)’s leadership election, which will be held on September 14.

He said before Abe took office in December in 2012, the bilateral relationship was already good, with the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement signed.

According to Masataka Fujita, Abe helped the relations thrive further. After assuming the position, he chose Vietnam as the first destination for his trips overseas and always wanted to boosting the Vietnam – Japan relations. His tenure that lasted nearly eight years, the longest in Japan’s history, was key to the stability of the ties.

He noted before Abe, even during the period when Japan often saw new PMs taking office, the relationship with ASEAN and Vietnam did not change much.

As long as the LDP remains the ruling party in Japan, there will be no changes and Japan's ties with ASEAN and Vietnam will continue growing strongly, he said./.VNA

The 'special guest' and PM Abe's letter to the Vietnamese Ambassador

When Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid an official visit to Japan in September 2015, the Japanese Government and PM Abe personally gave a very respectful and cordial welcome, considering Mr. Trong as a "national guest".