PM Takaichi’s visit expected to open up new horizons for Việt Nam-Japan cooperation

The upcoming official visit to Việt Nam by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is poised to deepen the already robust partnership between the two countries, shape new pillars of cooperation, and unlock fresh avenues for collaboration that deliver tangible benefits to both peoples.

Taking place from May 1 to 3, the trip makes Việt Nam the first regional destination PM Takaichi visits following her re-election in February 2026—an affirmation of Japan’s high regard for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as both sides enter a new phase of development.

Over five decades of trust and partnership

Việt Nam and Japan established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1973. Over more than 50 years, ties have broadened across politics, economy, security, culture, and education, becoming a standout success in Việt Nam’s policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and diversified external relations.

The relationship has steadily advanced: from a “reliable, long-term stable partnership” (2002) to a “strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” (2009), then an “extensive strategic partnership” (2014), and most recently a “comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world” (November 2023). This progression reflects growing political trust and the maturity of bilateral ties, setting the stage for more substantive, effective cooperation.

High-level engagement has been regular and constructive. Recent highlights include Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s visits and participation in major summits in Japan in 2021 and 2023, and Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng’s attendance at the online AZEC Summit in April 2026. Senior-level contacts also featured online talks in September 2024 between Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm and then-Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. From the Japanese side, visits by former prime ministers and senior parliamentary and imperial representatives have reinforced ties. In April 2026, PM Takaichi spoke by phone with Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm, becoming the first foreign leader to congratulate him after his election as President of Việt Nam.

Alongside visits, the two countries maintain a dense network of dialogue mechanisms, including the Việt Nam–Japan Cooperation Committee co-chaired by the foreign ministers, the Joint Committee on Trade, Energy and Industry, the Việt Nam–Japan Joint Initiative, and defence and security dialogues. They also coordinate closely at the United Nations, APEC, ASEM, and ASEAN-related forums, contributing to regional and global peace, stability, and development.

Leading partners across the economy and society

Economic and trade cooperation remains a core pillar, supported by bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, strong investment flows, and long-standing official development assistance from Japan to Việt Nam.

Japan is Việt Nam’s largest ODA provider, its biggest labour cooperation partner, the third-largest investor, and the fourth-largest partner in trade and tourism. Bilateral trade has expanded steadily and in a balanced way, reaching around US$52 billion in 2025, up 11 per cent from the previous year. In January 2026 alone, trade hit US$4.87 billion, a 27.7 per cent year-on-year rise. Việt Nam’s exports to Japan include seafood, garments, footwear, machinery and equipment, and wood and plastic products, while imports focus on machinery, electronics and components, steel, auto parts, and chemicals.

As of January 2026, Japan had 5,722 valid projects in Việt Nam with total registered capital of US$78.9 billion, ranking third among 153 foreign investors. Japanese capital concentrates in manufacturing and processing, electricity production and distribution, and real estate. Conversely, Việt Nam had 132 projects in Japan worth US$47.2 million—about 0.2 per cent of its total outward investment—mainly in processing and manufacturing; electricity, gas, water, and air-conditioning; and real estate.

Japan’s ODA has been pivotal, with total loans of about JPY 2.55 trillion (over US$23 billion) by the end of fiscal year 2025—more than 26 per cent of Việt Nam’s total signed foreign loans—supporting infrastructure, growth, environmental protection, and institutional capacity.

People-to-people ties are equally vibrant. Việt Nam is Japan’s largest source of foreign workers, with around 310,000 Vietnamese in the Japanese labour market. The number of Vietnamese students in Japan exceeds 51,000. Tourism flows continue to recover and grow, with over 810,000 visits from Japan to Việt Nam annually and some 680,000 from Việt Nam to Japan. Local-level cooperation is flourishing, with more than 110 partnership agreements between provinces and cities. The Vietnamese community in Japan has surpassed 680,000 people, forming the country’s second-largest foreign community and providing a strong social foundation for long-term friendship.

Promoting new areas of potential cooperation

Against a backdrop of complex regional and global dynamics, PM Takaichi’s visit carries special significance. It reaffirms shared commitments to peace, stability, and development at a time when both countries are implementing major strategic policies for the coming years.

The visit is expected to bolster political trust, strengthen strategic-level dialogue, and generate fresh momentum for more comprehensive and effective collaboration. Priority discussions are likely to cover economic cooperation, science and technology, innovation, energy and food security, semiconductor ecosystems, artificial intelligence, green transition, high-quality human resources, tourism, locality-to-locality links, and closer coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

A notable highlight will be PM Takaichi’s policy speech on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) at Việt Nam National University, Hanoi—the first such address by a Japanese prime minister in Việt Nam since 2020—underscoring ASEAN centrality and Việt Nam’s growing role in the region.

Looking ahead, both sides see major opportunities in science and technology, digital and green transformation, innovation, AI, energy security, and supply-chain resilience. With Japan’s strengths in advanced technology and governance and Việt Nam’s dynamic economy and increasingly skilled, youthful workforce, complementarities are clear. Intensified cooperation in technology transfer, human capital development, joint research, green and energy-transition projects, digital infrastructure, and sustainable finance can open new prospects and further elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the years to come.