Proposals for Advancing Vietnam-Japan Diplomatic and Economic Ties

Both sides expressed their delight at the increasingly substantial and effective development of Vietnam-Japan relations. Since the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership over a year ago, the relationship has continued to grow in both scope and depth across all fields. Political trust has been further consolidated, with high-level and multi-level exchanges. Investment, trade, labor, and tourism cooperation have been strongly promoted, with Japanese investors showing keen interest in Vietnam. Additionally, people-to-people exchanges have been strengthened.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that economic cooperation remains a key pillar of bilateral relations, becoming increasingly substantive and in-depth. Japan is Vietnam’s largest partner in official development assistance (ODA) and labor cooperation, the third-largest in investment, and the fourth-largest in trade and tourism. In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached US$46.2 billion, while Japanese investment in Vietnam amounted to approximately US$3.5 billion across 270 projects. The recent success of the 10th Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival further exemplifies the strong ties between the two nations, particularly in the context of global and regional economic challenges.

The NA Chairman expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for its continuous support of the Vietnamese community in Japan, which now numbers over 600,000 people. He highlighted that this community serves as an important bridge for Vietnam-Japan friendship.

Looking ahead, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man expressed his desire for both nations to further strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making it more effective and substantive. He called for enhanced high-level exchanges and cooperation across all channels, including the Party, State, and National Assembly, as well as exchanges between mass organizations of both countries, particularly between the Japan-Vietnam and Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Alliances. He also emphasized the need to bolster cultural, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.
During the meeting, Special Advisor Tsutomu Takebe proposed several measures to further promote Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation, particularly in the development of the Vietnam-Japan University. He expressed his hope that the NA Chairman would continue to support and accelerate the implementation of the Vietnam-Japan University project.

In response, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man acknowledged Takebe’s proposals and affirmed that the Vietnamese government has recently approved a medium-term public investment plan for the 2026-2030 period, which includes key and urgent projects such as the Vietnam-Japan University. Stressing the symbolic significance of this project in bilateral educational cooperation, he reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to effectively implementing it.