Japan-Viet Nam Relations
Japan-Viet Nam Summit Meeting
November 9, 2026
On November 9, commencing at 6:20 p.m. for approximately 50 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held summit meetings, a 15-minute small group meeting and a 35-minute large group meeting, with H.E. Mr. To Lam, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, who was paying an Official Visit to Japan. Following the meetings, the two leaders attended a document exchange ceremony and a joint press announcement, and then held a dinner meeting.
On this occasion, the two leaders issued the “Japan-Viet Nam Joint Vision Statement.”
1. Opening Remarks
- At the outset, Prime Minister TAKAICHI welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit to Japan and stated that she was pleased to meet with him again since her visit to Viet Nam in May of this year. She also stated her intention to further promote cooperation with Viet Nam toward the realization of the Updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”
- In response, General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome extended by the Japanese side and also conveyed his appreciation for Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s decision to have chosen Viet Nam as the first destination for a bilateral visit in Asia in May. Furthermore, he stated his intention to further deepen bilateral cooperation under the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World.” He also expressed his support for the Updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).”
2. Bilateral Relations
- The two leaders, recalling that they had concurred on promoting cooperation with economic security as a new priority area of Japan-Viet Nam cooperation during Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s visit to Viet Nam in May, welcomed that the cooperation is steadily progressing since then.
- They confirmed promoting concrete cooperation, including through collaboration under initiatives such as RISE+, particularly regarding rare-earth metals towards supply chain resilience.
- They welcomed the progress being made in bilateral cooperation on AI such as joint research including via NEXUS, human resource, infrastructure development, and AI safety.
- They concurred on aiming for the early realization of LNG- and gas-fired power projects involving Japanese companies, in response to surging electricity demand in Viet Nam.
- They confirmed that they would coordinate closely for cooperation regarding the national energy reserve , promoted by the Government of Viet Nam under the “Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia).”
- Prime Minister TAKAICHI called for further effective measures against copyright infringement in Viet Nam, particularly toward apprehending pirate website operators.
- The two leaders concurred on promoting security cooperation in order to realize and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law.
- They concurred on aiming for the early realization of the first provision of equipment and supplies in the area of Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) under the Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework, the first of its kind for Viet Nam.
- The two leaders welcomed the signing of the documents regarding Viet Nam Japan University - a symbol of bilateral educational cooperation.
- They concurred on launching preliminary consultations on an international agreement that includes making consular notification mandatory in all cases.
3. Region/International Affairs
- Prime Minister TAKAICHI stated that Japan is willing to continue working closely under the CPTPP, which is chaired by Viet Nam this year. Furthermore, the two leaders concurred on cooperating for the success of the 2027 APEC chaired by Viet Nam.
- The two leaders exchanged views on key issues including the situations in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and Korean Peninsula. Prime Minister TAKAICHI raised the importance of the response to the nuclear and missile issues as well as the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
