Vietnam, Japan Urged to Turn Strategic Commitments into Concrete Local Projects
Hue, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng has called for stronger local-level cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan, stressing that such collaboration is an important pillar of the two countries’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and should be translated into concrete, practical projects.
Addressing the 2026 Việt Nam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Huế on Sunday, PM Hưng highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation amid rapid and complex global changes. The forum, themed around building a digital, green and sustainable future, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Japanese Embassy in Việt Nam and Huế city.
The event brought together representatives from 18 Japanese localities and more than 100 leading Japanese corporations and businesses.
PM Hưng said that after four decades of Đổi mới (renewal), Việt Nam had become the world’s 32nd-largest economy and one of its 15 largest trading nations. The country has joined 17 free trade agreements and established economic links with 60 major economies, while per capita GDP has increased nearly 50-fold compared with the beginning of the reform process.
He affirmed that Việt Nam remains committed to maintaining stability to promote development while pursuing development to strengthen stability. The country aims to achieve double-digit economic growth during 2026-2030 while maintaining macroeconomic stability and pursuing rapid and sustainable development driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.
The Prime Minister stressed that Việt Nam seeks to attract foreign investment projects involving advanced technologies, knowledge, modern governance, research and development, high-quality human resources and substantive linkages with domestic enterprises.
He outlined five key orientations for future Việt Nam-Japan cooperation.
First, the two countries should become partners in high-quality growth and strategic autonomy based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. He called for expanded cooperation in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, smart cities, sustainable agriculture, start-up incubation and research and development centres.
Second, cooperation should focus on appropriate priorities, swift and thorough implementation and measurable results. Local governments should identify complementary strengths and concentrate on feasible projects capable of being implemented promptly.
Third, localities, businesses and people should remain at the heart of bilateral cooperation. Governments at all levels should listen to businesses and communities and create favourable conditions for investment and connectivity, ensuring that cooperation generates more employment, higher incomes and improved skills for people.
Fourth, cultural exchanges and mutual understanding should serve as a foundation for long-term cooperation. PM Hưng called for stronger collaboration in culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, including joint tourism products, direct air routes, youth and student exchanges, and the sharing of experience in heritage preservation and the development of cultural industries.
Fifth, the two countries should deepen cooperation in green transformation, climate change response and disaster prevention through practical initiatives involving green infrastructure, urban flood management, waste and wastewater treatment, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy and disaster preparedness.
PM Hưng also urged local governments and businesses in both countries to take a pioneering role by renewing their approach to cooperation, shifting from cooperation to co-creation and from technology transfer to joint development.
He called on Japanese businesses to view Việt Nam not only as a consumer market or production base, but also as a centre for manufacturing, innovation and sustainable supply-chain connectivity.
The Vietnamese Government, ministries and localities will continue to support Japanese investors, address their difficulties and further improve the investment and business environment, he affirmed.
Foreign Minister Lê Hoài Trung said the forum provides an important platform for localities from both countries to present their potential, strengths and cooperation needs, exchange development experiences and models, and engage directly with businesses, organisations and other partners. Such engagement, he said, can help generate initiatives with strong potential for connectivity and practical implementation.
In a congratulatory message to the forum, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae expressed appreciation for the efforts of delegates, local authorities, friendship organisations and business communities from both countries.
Recalling her visit to Việt Nam in May, Prime Minister Takaichi said she had witnessed clear progress in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, including people-to-people exchanges, the economy and economic security, culture, security and defence.
She emphasised that the vitality of local communities is closely linked to the vitality of the nation. She expressed hope that the dynamism and youthful spirit of Vietnamese localities, combined with the experience and expertise accumulated by Japanese local governments in regional development, industrial promotion, tourism and human-resource training, would contribute to strengthening the autonomy and resilience of both countries.
The Japanese Prime Minister called on Việt Nam and Japan to move forward together towards a future of greater strength and shared prosperity.
The forum also held thematic discussions on innovation ecosystems, AI, big data, digital and green transformation, semiconductors, green hydrogen, heritage preservation, tourism and cultural industries.
More than 40 meetings between Vietnamese and Japanese localities and businesses were also held on the sidelines of the forum, providing opportunities to transform cooperation potential into specific and practical projects.
