Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosts official welcome ceremony for Japanese counterpart Ishiba Shigeru

Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is on an official visit to Viet Nam from April 27-29 at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. This is Ishiba's first visit to Viet Nam since he became the Prime Minister of Japan and the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister to Viet Nam after the two countries upgraded ties to comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world in 2023.

The visit is of significant importance for both countries to consolidate political trust and discuss ways to boost cooperation in strategic areas.

In a press briefing ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's official visit to Viet Nam, apanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki emphasized that strengthening relations with Viet Nam is a cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy.

Praising Viet Nam's rapid reforms under the leadership of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam, the Ambassador noted that the ongoing transformation presents an opportunity for Japan to deepen its engagement. "This is a new era for Viet Nam," Ito said. "Japan is eager to support this journey and contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond," he added.

During the visit, the two nations are expected to discuss the progress of 15 renewable energy projects in Viet Nam, with a total investment of up to US$20 billion. These initiatives are part of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), a Japan-led initiative aimed at promoting decarbonization across the region, according to the diplomat.

"The visit by Prime Minister Shigeru will lay the groundwork for in-depth discussions that will further unlock opportunities for collaboration between our two nations," said Ito, stressing the growing importance of bilateral cooperation amid a rapidly changing global landscape.

Viet Nam and Japan established diplomatic relations on September 21, 1973. Both countries elevated relations to strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in 2009 and comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and and prosperity in Asia and the world in November 2023.

In 2011, Japan was the first G7 country to recognize Viet Nam as a market economy. Japan was also the first G7 country to invite Viet Nam to attend expanded G7 meetings in 2016 and 2023.

After 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan have been constantly consolidated and advanced across fields, making the bilateral ties a bright example in implementing the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of external relations.

Both countries have maintained regular contacts and exchanges at all levels, cooperation and dialogue mechanisms, effective and close coordination at international and regional forums, making increasingly positive contributions to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region, in line with Viet Nam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralization of external relations.

Economic-trade cooperation becomes a key pillar and a bright spot of the overall relationship between Viet Nam and Japan. Japan is the top ODA provider and the largest labor recipient, the third foreign investor, and the fourth trading partner and the fourth tourist source market of Viet Nam.

The two-way trade reached US$46.2 billion in 2024. On investment, Japan had 5,557 projects in Viet Nam with total registered capital of more than US$78.6 billion as of March 2025.

The two countries have maintained effective cooperation in other fields like culture, education and training, healthcare, tourism, local-to-local cooperation, and labor among others.

Viet Nam is the first country in the world to officially teach Japanese language at primary and junior school levels./.