Japan-Viet Nam Relations

At the outset, Prime Minister Hung welcomed Prime Minister TAKAICHI’s visit to Viet Nam and expressed his pleasure that Japan–Vietnam relations have been developing across various fields. He stated his intention to work closely with Prime Minister TAKAICHI to further develop bilateral relations and to address regional and international issues under the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

In response, Prime Minister TAKAICHI extended her congratulations on Prime Minister Hung’s appointment and the inauguration of Viet Nam’s new leadership. She emphasized the importance of cooperation to enhance each country’s autonomy and resilience amid an increasingly severe international environment, and stated that Japan attaches great importance to its relations with Viet Nam, which pursues a foreign policy of “strategic autonomy” and “international integration.” She also expressed her intention to further strengthen the Japan-Vietnam“Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” and to work together toward the realization and updates of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)” to make the region stronger and more prosperous.

The two leaders shared the recognition that it is important to enhance the autonomy and resilience of both countries amid an increasingly severe international environment and concurred on advancing cooperation in economic security including energy, critical minerals, AI, semiconductors, and space as new priority areas for Japan-Vietnam cooperation.

• (a) On energy, the two leaders reaffirmed their intention to deepen various cooperation under the “POWERR Asia” (Asia Energy and Resource Supply Chain Resilience Partnership), which was launched in Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Plus online Summit. They concurred on proceeding with support through NEXI for crude oil procurement for Nghi Son Refinery & Petrochemical Complex as the first project of POWERR Asia, in order to maintain production and supply chains of important materials.
• (b) On critical minerals, the two leaders concurred on cooperating toward strengthening supply chains including rare earth in Viet Nam.
• (c) On AI, the two leaders welcomed the memorandum of cooperation between Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Viet Nam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and concurred on cooperating toward the development of AI models reflecting Viet Nam’s language and culture, in particular native-language AI and sector-specific foundation models.
  On space, the two leaders concurred on further promoting cooperation in the use of satellite data in fields such as disaster management and the Public-Private Partnership in the space industry facilitated through the “VIETNAM - JAPAN SPACE HORIZONS 2026 FORUM” held in March.
• (d) Prime Minister TAKAICHI called for the resolution of challenges faced by Japanese companies, while noting the importance of improving the investment and economic cooperation environment in Viet Nam.
• (e) Prime Minister TAKAICHI called for the promotion of effective measures toward the crackdown on operators of pirated manga websites in Viet Nam, for the sound development of the content industries of both countries.

The two leaders welcomed progress in consultations and exchanges in the field of security, including the first vice-ministerial level “2+2” consultation held last year and reciprocal port calls by naval vessels.
They concurred on further advancing concrete security cooperation and support for strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities for the peace and stability of the region.

The two leaders, noting the active exchanges between the two countries, concurred on strengthening cooperation in the consular affairs.

The two leaders exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and concurred on strengthening communication toward de-escalation, including ensuring the safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
They also exchanged views on the situation in the South China Sea and confirmed that they would continue to closely coordinate toward maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The two leaders exchanged views on responses to North Korea, including its nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and concurred on continuing close coordination.

The two leaders affirmed the importance of strategically expanding the CPTPP for which Viet Nam serves as Chair this year while maintaining its high standards. They also confirmed cooperation on multilateral frameworks, including APEC 2027, for which Viet Nam will serve as host.