Japan Names Vietnam Its Irreplaceable Strategic Partner
Japan’s PM Ishiba calls Vietnam an irreplaceable partner, pledging support for tech, defense, and economic ties during his first official visit.
Table of Contents
Japan and Vietnam Deepen Strategic Ties for a New Global Era
Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
On April 27, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Tô Lâm, in a high-level meeting held at the Party Central Committee headquarters in Hanoi. The visit, coinciding with Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of national reunification, marked a pivotal moment for the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was formally established in 2023.
General Secretary Tô Lâm emphasized the historical and symbolic importance of this occasion, noting that the visit will set the tone for a new era of bilateral cooperation. He proposed seven major directions to elevate ties, including:
Reinforcing political trust
Expanding defense and security collaboration
Boosting science, technology, and digital innovation
Increasing human capital development
Deepening economic and ODA-based infrastructure cooperation
He highlighted science, innovation, and digital transformation as emerging pillars in bilateral engagement, suggesting that Japan play a key role in helping Vietnam build a skilled labor force.
Joint Commitments on Global and Regional Platforms
The two leaders agreed to strengthen multilateral coordination at regional and international forums, including the United Nations and ASEAN. This alignment supports efforts to maintain peace, regional stability, and cooperative development.
Their conversation reinforced the idea that Vietnam and Japan can play influential roles in shaping Indo-Pacific dynamics, especially in the context of rising geopolitical tensions and global economic transformation.
Strategic Framework in Numbers and History
Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic ties in 1973 and have rapidly expanded cooperation across multiple fronts. Today:
Japan is Vietnam’s largest ODA donor
Japan ranks as the third-largest investor in Vietnam
It is the fourth-largest trading partner and tourism contributor
Bilateral trade hit $46.2 billion in 2024, up 2.7% from 2023
Over 600,000 Vietnamese currently live and work in Japan
These milestones underscore how bilateral cooperation has grown far beyond political symbolism to become an essential economic and cultural bridge in Asia.
A Vision for the Next 50 Years
Prime Minister Ishiba’s first official visit as head of government reflects not only continuity but an ambition to expand Japan–Vietnam ties into strategic domains of the 21st century. With shared interests in digital innovation, high-tech industries, sustainable development, and regional security, both countries stand poised to shape a prosperous future together.
General Secretary Tô Lâm closed the meeting with a call to action for both sides to translate trust into tangible projects that benefit citizens and fortify long-term peace and development in Asia.
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