Major priorities of Japanese Prime Minister’s upcoming official visit to Viet Nam

Speaking at a press conference in Ha Noi on April 28, Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki said the visit is expected to elevate bilateral relations to a new level. He described the trip as highly significant, as it coincides with Viet Nam's 51st anniversary of national reunification (April 30, 1976-April 30, 2026) and reflects Japan's strong commitment to strengthening ties with Viet Nam.

The visit, made at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, also comes at a meaningful time following the introduction of Viet Nam's new leadership team. Ambassador Ito noted that it has become almost customary for Japanese prime ministers to visit Viet Nam within a year of taking office, highlighting Japan's consistent prioritization of the bilateral relationship.

According to the Ambassador, the trip aims to deepen trust between the two countries' leaders, review the progress of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and outline key directions for future cooperation, particularly in four key pillars: (i) innovation, science and technology, and green transition; (ii) energy security and strategic infrastructure; (iii) diplomacy, defense and security alongside contributions to regional peace; and (iv) people-to-people exchanges, including cultural and academic collaboration.

The visit will also provide an opportunity for both sides to strengthen coordination within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and address regional and global issues of shared concern.

A key highlight of the trip will be Prime Minister Takaichi's policy speech at Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy. This will mark the first time a Japanese prime minister has delivered a policy speech in Viet Nam since 2020.

The FOIP vision was first introduced by late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about a decade ago, based on the view that the Indo-Pacific region would become a central driver of global growth. However, the Ambassador noted that the world has changed significantly since then, with the rise of artificial intelligence, rapid technological advances, the growing prominence of the Global South, and increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics.

Prime Minister Takaichi believes that FOIP must evolve to respond to these changes, particularly as economic security has become a growing concern and building resilient supply chains is now a top priority for many countries.

Choosing Ha Noi and VNU-Ha Noi as the venue for the speech underscores Japan's recognition of ASEAN's central role, as well as Viet Nam's strategic importance in the region and its ongoing reform efforts./.