Hanoi (VNA) – Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations and nominated President of the 11th Review Conference (RevCon) of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), is paying a working visit to Japan from August 4 to 7.

During the trip, made at the invitation the Japanese Government, Ambassador Viet and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu paid a courtesy call to Minister of Foreign Affairs Iwaya Takeshi.

The host official highly valued Vietnam’s readiness to serve as President of the 11th NPT RevCon, which is a challenging role in the current context.

Emphasising the commitment of Japan, the only country to have borne the brunt of nuclear weapons, to the NPT process and the 11th NPT RevCon, Iwaya affirmed Japan’s maximum support for Vietnam so that the latter will successfully fulfil its duty, and that Japan is ready to coordinate and strive to promote cooperation and dialogue to ensure the conference will reach desired outcomes.

For his part, Viet appreciated the Japanese Government’s stance and stressed the importance of the NPT and the NPT review process in the current context.

As the two countries share the goal of a nuclear weapon-free world, he proposed the Japanese Government continue working closely with and assisting Vietnam as well as the Conference President during the preparation for and organisation of the 11th NPT RevCon next year.

At the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on the situation of and some measures for further enhancing the countries’ relations in the time ahead.

On this occasion, Ambassador Viet paid a courtesy call to Japanese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro, and had a meeting with Nakamura Kimitake, Director-General of Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department at the Japanese ministry to discuss the NPT RevCon. He also received some Japanese scholars who are former diplomats and currently members of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World Without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP).

As part of the visit, Viet attended a ceremony held in Hiroshima city on August 6 that marked 80th years since the atomic bombings. He also met with the mayor of Hiroshima and representatives of some non-governmental organisations for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in Japan.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), signed in 1968 and taking effect in 1970, gathers 191 member states at present, including five countries recognised as possessing nuclear weapons which are also permanent members of the UN Security Council – the UK, France, the US, Russia, and China. It plays the central role in international non-proliferation and disarmament mechanisms. Vietnam officially joined this treaty in 1982.

The NPT RevCon is held every five years to look into measures for promoting the implementation and universalisation of the treaty. The 11th edition is scheduled to take place from April 27 to May 22, 2026.

From now to the ꦏofficial election as President of the conference, Ambassador Viet, as President-designate, will engage in consultations and discussions with countries, groups of countries, and partners./.