Japan-Viet Nam Relations (Basic Data)

July 2012

Basic Data

Diplomatic relations:: Established in September 1973.
Japanese Nationals:: Number of Japanese nationals residing in Viet Nam: 2,300 (Oct. 1998)
Trade with Japan:: Exports: $1.75 billion (crude oil, fish and shellfish); Imports: $1.33 billion (machinery and equipments)
Direct Investment from Japan:: List of Exchange of Notes; Loans: 88 billion yen; Grants: 6 billion yen; Technical cooperation: 6.5 billion yen

VIP Visits

From Japan to Viet Nam

Year	Name
1994	Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama
1996	Foreign Minister Yukihiko Ikeda
1997	Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
1998	Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi
2002	Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
2004	Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi
2004	Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura
2005	Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura

From Viet Nam to Japan

Year	Name
1993	Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet
1995	General Secretary Do Muoi
1995	Chairman of National Assembly Nong Duc Manh
1997	Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam
1999	Prime Minister Phan Van Khai
2002	General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Nong Duc Manh
2011	Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee Truong Tan Sang

Cultural Exchanges

Japan-Viet Nam Cultural Festival: 1998 was the 25th anniversary for establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam, the Executive Committee of Japan-Viet Nam Cultural Festival was set up and provided a series of cultural exchange events to be held through out 1998 to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Viet Nam. The Executive Committee consisted of representatives from the Government of Viet Nam, Hanoi People's Committee, Embassy of Japan in Viet Nam, and Japanese residents in Hanoi represented by such groups as Hanoi Japan Business Club and Hanoi Japanese Women Group. The festival contributed to deepen mutual understanding between the people of two countries and further strengthen their relations towards the 21st century.

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2004)

814.3 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)
293.0 million yen (Grant Aid for Cultural Heritage)
30.0 million yen (Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects)

Recent Trends

(1) Signing of Japan-Viet Nam Science and Technology Co-operation Agreement [English (PDF)] [Japanese (PDF)]
(2) Signing of Japan-Viet Nam Investment Agreement [English (PDF)] [Japanese (PDF)]: (a) The Agreement between Japan and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment (hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement") signed on Friday, November 14, between Ms. Kawaguchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Vo Hong Phuc, Minister of Planning and Investment of Viet Nam.; (b) The Agreement, in principle, guarantees national treatment and most-favored-nation treatment to the investors and their investments of both countries at the stage of pre-investment, and prohibits the respective authorities from imposing so-called "performance requirement" to provide the rules in terms of liberalization, promotion and protection of investment in a comprehensive manner.
The Agreement is expected to contribute to creating a more transparent and favorable environment for the investors in each country and thereby even further reinforcing their bilateral economic relationship.
(3) Exchanges by eminent people between Japan and Viet Nam: This year, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai made a successful official visit to Japan in March in return of an official visit to Viet Nam by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in December last year. Following that, Prince and Princess Akishino visited Viet Nam in June as the first visit to Viet Nam ever made by members of the Japanese Imperial Family in the history of Japan-Viet Nam relations. These exchanges by eminent people made a milestone in the development of the relationship between Japan and Viet Nam, and created great motivation for the development of Japan-Viet Nam ties to a higher level toward the 21st century.
(4) MFN treatment: Japan and Viet Nam officially exchanged Most Favoured Nation (MFN) treatment for tariffs on May 26th, 1999. The decisions were made following an agreement on the exchange of MFN treatment reached between Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and his Vietnamese counterpart PhanVan Khai during Khai's visit to Japan in March. After the Government of Viet Nam promulgated a new Decision on Duty Rate for Import Goods since January 1st, 1999, the demand for exchange of the MFN status had become an urgent issue with the aim of pushing up the increasingly bilateral trade. Japan is an important market of Viet Nam, accounting for over 15%of the total export amount of Viet Nam. In 1998, the trade exchange between two countries reached an estimated three billion dollars.
(5) Working Group on Investment and Trade: Working Group on Investment and Trade will be held in Ha Noi in the middle of September, 1999, to strengthen overall economic relations between Japan and Viet Nam, in particular, to improve the environment for foreign direct investment and trade in Viet Nam, and to have a clear road map for future activities and measures in this field. Officials of Deputy Director-General level of MOFA and MITI will be co-chairmans on the Japanese side, and Vice Minister of Ministry of Planning and Investment will be their Vietnamese counterpart. Japanese business circle in Viet Nam and Vietnamese related authorities are also scheduled to participate in the WG. The WG will be held based on the agreement between Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on 29th of March, 1999.

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