During their talks on May 2, the two PMs agreed on measures to raise Japanese investment in Vietnam to $5 billion per year and bring the bilateral trade turnover to $60 billion by 2030.

Vietnam’s  Prime
Minister Le Minh Hung held talks with his Japanese counterpart Takaichi Sanae
at the headquarters of the Government Office in Hanoi on May 2.

The talks took place as part of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s
official visit to Vietnam from May 1-3.

PM Le Minh Hung was quoted by the Government News as  saying that he 
warmly welcomes  the Japanese
leader’s ongoing official visit, adding that her decision to choose Vietnam as
the first destination in Asia after her re-election demonstrates Japan’s strong
interest and high priority given to Vietnam.

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.

Vietnam 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  PM Hung.

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 Vietnam 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  PM Hung.

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, as quoted by the Government News, congratulated Vietnam on its
remarkable achievements in the national development and its increasing international
role, saying that Vietnam holds an important position in regional supply chains
and pursues an independent foreign policy with deep international integration.

Japan advocates Vietnam’s development efforts and
orientations and stands ready to accompany it in achieving its development
goals, underlined Prime Minister Takaichi.

The Japanese Prime Minister expressed her desire to work
with Vietnam 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 Vietnam to $5 billion per year and bring the bilateral trade turnover to $60
billion by 2030.

They asserted to accelerate market access for Vietnam’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. PM Takaichi affirmed
that Japan will continue supporting Vietnam in effectively implementing the
one-million-hectare low-emission rice project in the Mekong Delta.

Prime Minister Hung hailed the operations of Japanese banks
and financial institutions in Vietnam, 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 Vietnam –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 Vietnam 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 Vietnam–Japan Local Cooperation Forum in 2026.

PM Hung 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 Vietnam–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 Vietnam 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).

The Vietnamese Prime Minister invited the Japanese Prime
Minister to attend the APEC Summit in Phu Quoc next year and informed her that
Vietnam 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 Vietnam.

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

On this 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.

VGP-Khanh Chi