HCMC – Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on May 2 received Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Takaichi Sanae at the Presidential Palace during her official visit to Vietnam.
To Lam welcomed the visit by Prime Minister Takaichi and a high-level Japanese delegation, describing it as significant as both countries have new leadership teams pursuing their respective socioeconomic development goals.
He expressed satisfaction with the strong progress in Vietnam-Japan relations since the two countries elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership more than two years ago. He noted substantive and wide-ranging cooperation marked by high political trust, effective coordination, and multiple dialogue mechanisms covering the economy, diplomacy, security and defense.
The Vietnamese leader said bilateral cooperation has become increasingly close in economic development and human resources, while expanding into new areas such as digital transformation, green transition, science and technology, and innovation.
Prime Minister Takaichi voiced support for Vietnam’s reform agenda and efforts to strengthen economic self-reliance, saying she believed the country would achieve further successes in the coming years.
She said Japan seeks closer cooperation with Vietnam to advance the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and would continue accompanying and supporting Vietnam in achieving its development goals, contributing to regional prosperity.
To Lam reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, as well as diversification and multilateralization of external relations. He said Japan remains one of Vietnam’s most important, trusted and stable strategic partners.
He proposed six major directions to deepen bilateral strategic cooperation, including stronger political trust and exchanges through Party, Government and local channels; more effective defense-security cooperation; stronger economic connectivity; and expanded cooperation in digital transformation, energy transition, green growth, semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
He also called for enhanced cooperation in science and technology through high-quality workforce training and joint research, as well as broader people-to-people exchanges in labor, education, culture, tourism and local partnerships.
Prime Minister Takaichi stressed the importance of Vietnam-Japan economic cooperation in ensuring economic security and enhancing the strategic autonomy and resilience of both nations.
She highlighted potential collaboration in semiconductors, high technology, digital and green transformation, public-private partnerships in energy and mineral supply chains, as well as artificial intelligence and space cooperation.
The Japanese prime minister said Japan would implement the first cooperation project under the POWERR ASIA initiative by supporting crude oil procurement for the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical plant to help ensure full-capacity operations.
She also expressed interest in working with Vietnam on energy, gas-fired power and strategic minerals projects.
Takaichi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting the nearly 700,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Japan, while agreeing that the two countries should strengthen consular cooperation and coordination in crime prevention.
At the meeting, both sides agreed to coordinate closely at regional and international forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN and Mekong subregional mechanisms amid growing global uncertainties affecting economic and energy security.
On the occasion, To Lam invited the Emperor and Empress of Japan to visit Vietnam soon. Prime Minister Takaichi invited To Lam and his spouse to visit Japan at an early date.
