JCP chair and CPV politburo member discuss socialism and world peace

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo held talks with Communist Party of Vietnam Politburo member Nguyen Phu Trong on September 4 at the JCP office in Tokyo. They exchanged views on new approaches to socialism and the struggle to defend the international order for peace and expressed their hopes that JCP-CPV relations be further developed.

Shii stated that "socialism through a market economy", as practiced in Vietnam's Doi Moi, is becoming the major current in the 21st century. "This is a view the JCP wrote in the draft revision to the JCP Program expected to be adopted in the next congress," the JCP chair added.

Trong explained that Vietnam's market economy is directed to socialism and that the CPV feels that "Vietnam is at a transitional stage to socialism." He also said that the Doi Moi policy is aimed at establishing a society that attaches importance to "efficiency" and efforts to defend the workers' interests and social welfare.

Referring to the Iraq War and other related international issues, Shii stressed the need to build cooperation based on the common notion that an international peace order should be established under the United Nations Charter. Trong said, "I agree with you."

The meeting was attended by Nishiguchi Hikaru, director of the JCP International Bureau and Vu Dung, Vietnamese ambassador to Japan.

Trong was in Japan at the invitation of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (end)