A new dimension for Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
WVR - The official visit to Japan by General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse sends a consistent message: Vietnam wishes to partner with Japan on a new development journey, where the growth of each nation creates opportunities for mutual advancement, bringing tangible benefits to the people and contributing to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly meet with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. (Source: VNA) |
The official visit to Japan (November 8-11) marks the first official visit to Japan by General Secretary, President To Lam in his new role. During the visit, General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse met and attended a banquet hosted by Emperor Naruhito and the Japanese Empress at the Imperial Palace; attended the official welcoming ceremony, held talks, delivered a joint press statement, and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae; addressed the Japanese Parliament, visited Kanagawa Prefecture, and engaged in numerous other high-level meetings.
Converging interests and vision
It can be affirmed that political trust is a solid hinge for the Vietnam–Japan relationship to continue to flourish. Throughout the visit, this “hinge” was consistently affirmed by the high-level leaders of both sides: Vietnam always regards Japan as one of its foremost strategic partners, a sincere and reliable friend, accompanying the realization of sustainable development goals; supporting Japan in playing an active role in the region and globally, successfully implementing its new Growth Strategy. Meanwhile, Japan emphasizes Vietnam as a priority partner in implementing its foreign policy and realizing Japan's new Growth Stratgy.
If political trust is the “hinge” for cooperation to extend, then the convergence of interests and long-term development vision is the driving force for both countries to join hands in charting a course for greater development aspirations, creating new values together.
“Achievements are made through unity,” the Vietnam-Japan Joint Vision Statement with the spirit of “Partnering, Co-creating, Mutual Benefit, for High-Quality Growth, Strategic Autonomy, and Resilience” clearly demonstrates this strong determination, together advancing the Japan-Vietnam relationship forward.
The new height of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is entirely justified, as three years since the two countries upgraded their partnership framework, bilateral cooperation has witnessed comprehensive, substantive, and effective development; nearly 80% of commitments and agreements have been implemented with significant progress.
Continuing the momentum, in the new phase, high-level leaders of the two countries have agreed on five major orientations, which are important contents of the Joint Statement and serve as a guiding principle for bilateral cooperation moving forward.
In summary, the five orientations include: Enhancing political trust based on deepening and substantive cooperation in defence, security, and diplomacy; strengthening economic linkage towards sustainable, long-term development on the principles of equality, mutual support, and mutual benefit; promoting substantive cooperation in the pillars of science and technology, innovation, and high-quality human resource training; further strengthening human resource connection and people-to-people exchange through local cooperation, labor, health, culture, and tourism; enhancing close cooperation, mutual support in international and regional forums, and issues of mutual concern.
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| Prime Minister Takaichi hosts the welcoming ceremony for General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly on their official visit to Japan. (Source: VNA) |
Partnering, co-creating
Prior to the visit, in an interview with Japan's NHK television, General Secretary, President To Lam emphasised his aspirations for shifts in bilateral economic-investment cooperation in the near future. These aspirations were further concretized through high-level exchanges and meetings with Japanese businesses during the visit. The main highlight is that both sides agreed to transition from mere economic, trade, and investment cooperation to strengthening linkages between the two economies, with a greater focus on the spirit of partnering, co-creating, enhancing the autonomy and resilience of each country's economy.
The spirit of partnering, co-creating is clearly reflected in the commitment to promote a new generation of ODA cooperation in fields such as AI, semiconductors, energy, digital transformation, green transition, promoting large-scale, high-quality infrastructure development projects in Vietnam; closely cooperating to strive for a trade turnover of 80 billion USD by 2030; promoting cooperation in research and high-quality human resource training, establishing a network of Vietnamese-Japanese scientists…
During meetings with several major Japanese corporations and businesses, General Secretary, President To Lam made specific, detailed requests with the desire for Japanese businesses to continue contributing to Vietnam's sustainable growth and development vision.
For instance, in a meeting with the Chairman of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Vietnam's highest leader expressed the desire for MUFG not only to be a financial service provider but to become a partner in mobilizing resources for development and connecting capital and technology flows between the two countries; or with the Representative Director, Chairman, and CEO of Sumitomo Corporation, Vietnam requested Sumitomo to focus on developing new-generation industrial parks, following the success of Thang Long Industrial Park; from the experience of the Smart City project in northern Hanoi, to research sustainable urban development in other localities…
General Secretary, President To Lam hopes that today's proud cooperation achievements between the two countries will continue to be nurtured by the growth of Vietnamese businesses, the long-term attachment of Japanese businesses, and the creation of higher-value products by both sides.
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| General Secretary, President To Lam delivers a policy speech at the Japanese Diet. (Source: VNA) |
A beautiful, strong “Silk of Friendship”
Vietnam and Japan have had people-to-people exchanges for over 400 years. During the meeting between General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse with the Japanese Emperor and Empress, Emperor Naruhito recalled the exchanges and connections between the peoples of the two countries, including the influence of Lam Ap music brought to Nara by Monk Phat Triet in the 8th century into Japanese court music and many Japanese ceramics found in Hoi An; considering the long history of people-to-people exchanges and cultural similarities as an important foundation.
The two nations were connected by the “Maritime Silk Road” of the past, with many beautiful silk products brought to Japan. President of the House of Councillors Sekiguchi Masakazu, in his speech thanking General Secretary, President To Lam after his address at the Japanese Parliament, also emphasized that over the years, Vietnam and Japan have cherished and woven threads of friendship. These threads have intertwined over many layers, making the relationship between the two countries today a “silk of friendship” that is both strong and beautiful.
| Within the framework of the visit, General Secretary, President To Lam extended an invitation to Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to attend the APEC Summit 2027 in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Vietnam will participate and contribute to the success of the GREEN EXPO 2027 in Yokohama, Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister pledged to accompany and support Vietnam in successfully hosting the APEC Year 2027 and expressed the desire to visit Vietnam again soon. |
The two countries have cherished and woven threads of friendship. These threads have intertwined over many layers, making the relationship between the two countries today a “silk of friendship” that is both strong and beautiful.
The meaningful cultural activities of General Secretary, President To Lam and his spouse during the visit also add to this beautiful and enduring silk. The special Vietnam-Japan Friendship Concert opens up many opportunities for exchange, learning, and co-creation. The Vietnam-Japan Small Sculpture Exhibition with the theme “Dialogue” is also a highlight. Initiated by the idea of the spouse of the General Secretary, President, this is the first time an exhibition gathering a large number of prominent contemporary sculptors from Vietnam is organized abroad. The spouse of the General Secretary, President, Mrs. Ngo Phuong Ly, also attended the fashion exchange program “Connecting Threads”, discussing the similarities between the two countries and the pride each side has in their traditions and cultural identities. Clearly, the cultural and artistic ties will help strengthen the bonds between the people of Vietnam and Japan.
We share a common belief, as President of the House of Councillors Sekiguchi Masakazu believes, that if we join forces and move forward together, the two countries can confidently overcome any difficulties, weaving a steady progress into the “silk of friendship”.
In summary, “partnering, co-creating”, the spirit highlighted throughout the visit of General Secretary, President To Lam, holds profound significance for the new journey of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan. The achievements of this new journey will be reflected in the improved lives of the people of both countries and their joint contributions to peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.
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