NHK, May 1

JapanesePrime Minster Kishida Fumio has met his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinhin Hanoi. They confirmed that their countries will deepen cooperation invarious sectors, including security and their economies. Also on the agenda washow to deal with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Thetwo prime ministers held a joint news conference after the meeting on Sunday.

Kishidasaid, "We agreed on the importance of an immediate ceasefire andhumanitarian aid. We also oppose the threat to use, or use of weapons of massdestruction and attacks on civilians and civilian facilities that violateinternational humanitarian law."

VietnamesePrime Minister Chinh announced that the country will provide half a milliondollars in humanitarian aid to Ukrainians through international organizations.

The two leaders touched on security concerns in Asia, and agreed to cooperateto deal with the situations in North Korea and Myanmar.

Inan apparent reference to China, Kishida also conveyed strong opposition to anyunilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the South China Sea.