Việtnam Urges Deeper Local-Level Cooperation with Japan to Advance Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
Quảng Ninh, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Tuesday called on Japanese businesses and localities to continue accompanying Việtnam on its development journey, contributing to shared growth and prosperity under the Việtnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He made the remarks while addressing the Việtnam–Japan Local Cooperation Forum held in Quảng Ninh Province, attended by diplomats, senior officials and business leaders from both countries.
Over the past five decades of diplomatic relations, Việt Nam and Japan have established numerous cooperation agreements at the local level, forming a strong and practical foundation for bilateral collaboration. This year’s forum featured more than 100 networking activities and working sessions, along with 40 booths and cultural spaces showcasing the unique products and traditions of each nation.
Delivering the opening remarks, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Hoài Trung voiced confidence that localities from both countries would continue playing an active role in strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He emphasised that collaborative initiatives between provinces and cities have helped transform high-level commitments into tangible programmes, creating direct benefits for local communities.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Việtnam’s representative missions in Japan remain committed to supporting localities and businesses in fostering connectivity and promoting sustainable cooperation.
Japanese Ambassador to Việtnam Ito Naoki highlighted the forum as “a new step forward in bilateral cooperation”, bringing together provinces, cities and friendship organisations from both countries to deepen local-to-local ties.
He noted that 2024 had witnessed the launch and completion of several major projects in Việt Nam with strong Japanese participation, including the opening of the AEON Mall in Hải Phòng, the commencement of the North Hà Nội Smart City project by the Sumitomo–BRG joint venture, and the ODA-funded Eunsa drainage project. These developments, he said, reflected growing confidence among Japanese investors in Việt Nam.
Ambassador Ito expressed optimism that the forum would continue to expand local exchanges, strengthen two-way investment and open new cooperation opportunities in community development, industry and technological innovation.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Chính emphasised that the Việt Nam–Japan Local Cooperation Forum held strategic significance, embodying the spirit of win-win collaboration for peace, stability and shared prosperity. Japan today is among Việt Nam’s top economic partners—ranking first in official development assistance and labour cooperation, third in investment, and fourth in trade and tourism.
Since upgrading their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023, the two countries have broadened their cooperation mechanisms in diplomacy, defence, security and labour, further enhancing mutual trust. Collaboration continues to deepen in infrastructure, education, healthcare and technology transfer, while science and technology have emerged as a new pillar of bilateral relations.
Bilateral trade has increased by 20 per cent, and Japanese investment in Việtnam has risen by US$8 billion. The Vietnamese community in Japan has expanded by over 20 per cent, while 10 new local-level partnership agreements have been signed.
Praising these achievements, PM Chính said cooperation at the local and business levels remained a defining strength of the Việtnam–Japan relationship, serving as an effective channel for implementing high-level agreements.
Looking ahead, he reaffirmed Việtnam’s determination to overcome institutional, human resource and infrastructure constraints, mobilise resources more efficiently and accelerate economic restructuring in line with a modern and dynamic growth model. Science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, he asserted, would be the main drivers for Việtnam to achieve double-digit growth from 2026 and become a developed, high-income nation by 2045.
The Prime Minister called on Japan to continue supporting Việtnam in developing innovation ecosystems, strengthening digital governance and enhancing policy and management capabilities in key sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology and technology infrastructure.
Regarding the investment climate, PM Chính reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to implementing comprehensive reforms aimed at ensuring transparency, improving infrastructure and promoting smart governance. He urged localities to be innovative and proactive in utilising their complementary advantages to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.
Local authorities, he stressed, must listen closely to businesses from both countries, introduce incentive policies and create a more enabling environment for bilateral investment, ensuring that the benefits reach the people through better jobs, higher incomes and enhanced skills.
Key areas for future cooperation include green transition initiatives, climate change adaptation, natural resource management and disaster prevention. Joint projects in flood control, waste and wastewater treatment, green infrastructure, climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy were highlighted as promising avenues for collaboration.
The forum concluded with a shared commitment from both sides to further strengthen local-level cooperation as a cornerstone of the Việtnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
