ベトナム 「プラス１」超える関係目指せ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(May. 24, 2009)
Japan, Vietnam envision strategic relationship
ベトナム　「プラス１」超える関係目指せ（5月24日付・読売社説）

Japan can look forward to cooperating with Vietnam in various business fields, including space development.
　ベトナムとは、宇宙など多様な分野でビジネス協力が期待できよう。

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has just paid a visit to Japan, following in the footsteps of Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nong Duc Manh, who came here in April.
　ベトナムからズン首相が来日した。４月のマイン共産党書記長に続く首脳の来日である。

In a joint statement issued after a meeting between Manh and Prime Minister Taro Aso, the two countries vowed to work on developing their bilateral relationship into a "strategic partnership." In his talks with Aso, Dung also agreed to promote bilateral economic cooperation in various fields on the basis of the joint statement.
　マイン書記長とは、日越関係を「戦略的パートナーシップ」として発展させるとする共同声明を出した。ズン首相も麻生首相との会談で、共同声明に基づき、さまざまな経済協力を推進することで合意した。

A large number of Japanese companies have advanced into Vietnam recently in pursuit of the so-called China-plus-one strategy: Having made huge investments in China, taking advantage of its cheap, able workforce, they are seeking to enter another country or region as a second production base in consideration of investment risks in China, including mounting labor costs. Vietnam fits the bill.
　ベトナムは近年、「チャイナ・プラス１」の有力国として日系企業の進出が目立っている。中国だけでは人件費高騰などの投資リスクがあるとの理由で、中国に続く第二の生産拠点として進出するパターンだ。

The joint statement seeks not only the promotion of investment by Japanese companies in Vietnam, but also the improvement of the investment environment in Vietnam. With the statement, the attractiveness of doing business in Vietnam, which is known for its diligent workforce and low labor costs, will be further enhanced.
　共同声明は日本企業の投資促進と同時に、ベトナム側の投資環境の改善を盛り込んだ。これにより、勤勉な国民性で知られ、労働力が安いベトナム自体の魅力はさらに高まろう。

In late December, Japan and Vietnam signed an economic partnership agreement. We hope the two countries will quickly ratify the agreement and develop their bilateral economic relationship into one stronger than a relationship based on the China-plus-one strategy.
　昨年暮れには、日越経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）も締結した。批准を急ぎ、「プラス１」を超える経済関係に発展させたい。

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High-tech cooperation set

In the joint statement, Japan and Vietnam also agreed to expand their cooperation into new areas, including the space, nuclear and aircraft technology sectors.
　宇宙、原子力、航空などの「新たな分野」に協力を拡大することも、共同声明はうたった。

First of all, the two nations will cooperate to develop small satellites and construct a space technology center in the suburbs of Hanoi. It will be the first time that Japan has provided full-fledged support for another country's space development. It is expected that Japanese companies will build satellites for Vietnam and launch them on Japanese rockets.
　まず、小型衛星の開発やハノイ近郊に予定する宇宙技術センターの建設に協力する。日本が宇宙分野で他国を本格支援する初めてのケースだ。日本企業からの衛星調達、さらには日本のロケットによる打ち上げも期待できる。

Meanwhile, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry agreed with the Vietnamese government in May 2008 on cooperation for the start of nuclear power generation in Vietnam in 2020.
　原子力利用では、経済産業省が昨年５月、２０２０年の原子力発電運転開始に向けて協力することでベトナム政府と合意した。

In the field of aircraft technology, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. is producing a small passenger jet, dubbed the Mitsubishi Regional Jet, as Japan's second domestically developed plane after the YS-11. Vietnam likely will be a key buyer of the MRJ.
　航空では、三菱重工業がＹＳ―１１以来の“日の丸旅客機”となる小型ジェット旅客機「ＭＲＪ」を開発中だ。ベトナムは、その有力な販売相手になりそうだ。

The global space business is expected to grow at a healthy pace due to the increase in demand for satellites in developing countries. The number of orders for nuclear power plants also is sure to increase, mainly in developing countries, amid growing awareness of the importance of environmental protection. As the development of the MRJ will be supported by a wide range of industries, such as parts and materials manufacturers, it is expected that the MRJ development will create a positive ripple effect on the manufacturing industry as a whole.
　世界の宇宙ビジネスは、途上国の衛星需要の増加から、堅調な伸びを示すと予想されている。原発の建設受注も、環境対策の重要性が認識される中で、途上国を中心に拡大するのは確実だ。ＭＲＪは部品や素材など裾野(すその)が広く、製造業全般に波及効果が見込める。

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China expanding influence

If Japanese companies are able to pave the way for expansion overseas using Vietnam as a stepping stone, they can expect to reap big rewards.
　ベトナムを端緒に海外展開の道がひらけるなら、日本企業が受けるメリットは大きい。

China also has been strengthening its economic influence in Southeast Asian countries. As Beijing has taken a lead over Japan in cooperation with these countries--especially in the space development field--Tokyo should make more efforts to realize substantive cooperation in this area.
　東南アジア諸国には、中国も経済的な影響力を強めている。特に宇宙分野の協力は日本より先行しているだけに、政府は協力の具体化に力を入れるべきだ。

We hope Japan and Vietnam will strengthen the bilateral relationship so it deserves to be called a strategic partnership.
　「戦略的」の冠に恥じぬよう、日越関係をより強固にしたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 24, 2009)
（2009年5月24日01時33分 読売新聞）