Vietnamese, Japanese Prime Ministers hold talks in Ha Noi

 

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Takaichi Sanae ahead of their summit meeting at the headquarters of the Government Office, Ha Noi, May 2, 2026 - Photo: VGP

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung warmly welcomed the Japanese leader's ongoing official visit, adding that her decision to choose Viet Nam as the first destination in Asia after her re-election demonstrates Japan's strong interest and high priority given to the Southeast Asian country.

He congratulated the Japanese Prime Minister on successfully chairing the expanded online summit of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) on energy security, thereby affirming Japan's leadership role and contributions to addressing global energy security issues.

Viet Nam always regards Japan as one of its top important strategic partners and a sincere and trustworthy friend that accompanies the nation in realizing sustainable development goals, noted the host.

He expressed confidence that the visit will inject new momentum to further promote and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries, making it increasingly deeper, more substantive, comprehensive, and effective across all areas of shared interest—especially in economics, trade, investment, official development assistance, digital transformation, green transition, science and technology, food security, and sustainable energy—key drivers for the development of both nations as well as the future of the region and the world.

The relationship between Viet Nam and Japan has been developing positively, comprehensively, and substantively—built on a high level of political trust, deep economic cooperation, and close people-to-people exchanges, highlighted Le.

He expressed his hope that both sides will work closely together to elevate the bilateral ties to a new level and further deepen cooperation across all fields.

Prime Minister Takaichi congratulated Viet Nam on its remarkable achievements in the national development and its increasing international role, saying that Viet Nam holds an important position in regional supply chains and pursues an independent foreign policy with deep international integration.

Japan advocates Viet Nam's development efforts and orientations and stands ready to accompany the Southeast Asian nation in achieving its development goals, underlined the guest.

The Japanese Prime Minister expressed her desire to work with Viet Nam to strengthen the autonomy and resilience of both economies.

The two Prime Ministers vowed to continue strengthening political trust by maintaining annual high-level visits and exchanges, and effectively implement ministerial-level cooperation mechanisms across fields such as diplomacy, trade, industry and energy, and agriculture.

They pledged to enhance substantive cooperation in defense and security, especially in maritime areas, post-war recovery, cybersecurity, United Nations peacekeeping operations, military medicine, training, and transnational crime combat.

Regarding economic cooperation, the two leaders underlined the need to further deepen economic ties as the central pillar of the relationship through bolstering cooperation in trade, investment, and official development assistance, thereby helping to ensure strong economic security, energy security, and sustainable agriculture.

Both sides agreed on measures to raise Japanese investment in Viet Nam to US$5 billion per year and bring the bilateral trade turnover to US$60 billion by 2030.

They asserted to accelerate market access for Viet Nam's green-skinned pomelo and Japan's grapes, and carry out ODA projects on climate change response.

The two sides committed to advancing cooperation under Japan's regional initiatives, such as the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) and the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (POWERR ASIA), while promoting discussions on energy projects, including nuclear power and gas-fired electricity.

Accordingly, Japan will support arrangements for crude oil supply to the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex. Takaichi affirmed that Japan will continue supporting Viet Nam in effectively implementing the one-million-hectare low-emission rice project in the Mekong Delta.

Prime Minister Le hailed the operations of Japanese banks and financial institutions in Viet Nam, noting that they play an important bridging role between businesses of the two countries.

He proposed the establishment of mechanisms for mergers and acquisitions between small and medium-sized enterprises of both sides, encouraging Japanese companies to invest in high-tech projects, increase localization rates, and support Vietnamese enterprises in participating in Japanese government-invested projects as well as conducting operation more effectively in Japan.

Regarding science and technology cooperation, the two Prime Ministers pledged to resume the Viet Nam–Japan Joint Committee on Science and Technology Cooperation this year and soon arrange a public–private high-tech event.

Prime Minister Takaichi stated that Japan wishes to continue supporting Viet Nam in enhancing its technological self-reliance in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and space, considering these priority areas for cooperation in the coming period.

Japan will support the training of high-quality human resources in high-tech sectors through offering scholarships for Vietnamese students and researchers, as well as co-funding joint research projects under programs such as the NEXUS (Networked Exchange, United Strength for Stronger Partnerships between Japan and ASEAN) and the Sakura Science Exchange Program.

The two Prime Ministers vowed to foster cooperation in the fields of manpower, people-to-people exchange, culture, and tourism, and organize the second Viet Nam–Japan Local Cooperation Forum in 2026.

Le proposed that the Japanese Government simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens in a bid to achieve the goal of doubling the number of tourists by 2030.

The two leaders also agreed to work closely on the Viet Nam–Japan University project and soon sign an agreement on the establishment and operation of the university.

They pledged to reinforce collaboration at international and regional forums such as ASEAN, the Mekong subregion, and the United Nations, as well as within the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) this year when Viet Nam serves as the Chair.

Both sides underscored the importance of resolving disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Le invited the Japanese Prime Minister to attend the APEC Summit in Phu Quoc next year and informed her that Viet Nam will participate in the GREEN EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister pledged to work closely to ensure the success of the APEC Year 2027 in Viet Nam.

Following their summit meeting, the two sides agreed to adopt the list of priority cooperation areas between Viet Nam and Japan in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and economic security and issued a joint press statement announcing the outcomes of the meeting.

The occasion, the two Prime Ministers also witnessed the exchange of six important bilateral cooperation documents in areas including science and technology, ODA loans for climate change response, irrigation, space, and emissions reduction.

The same day, the Japanese leader had meetings with General Secretary and President To Lam and Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man./.

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