Ambassador Ito Naoki: Trust is the foundation for taking Vietnam-Japan relations to new heights

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki shares key achievements and orientations for Vietnam-Japan cooperation in the new period. (Photo: Trung Anh)

Looking back on the 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki emphasised that Vietnam and Japan have built close ties on a foundation of mutual trust and genuine affection between the peoples of the two countries.

Building on this foundation, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to develop in a substantive manner, with cooperation in the fields of economy, science and technology, and security and defence continuing to expand.

Speaking at the briefing, Ambassador Ito Naoki said that bilateral trade reached approximately 38.6 billion USD in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of more than 15% compared with the same period in 2025.

If this growth momentum is maintained in the final months of the year, two-way trade could approach the 60 billion USD mark for the full year.

During the same period, Japanese investment in Vietnam reached approximately 2.3 billion USD, up 14.3%, bringing Japan's cumulative investment in Vietnam to around 81 billion USD.

Alongside sustained growth in trade and investment, bilateral cooperation is gradually expanding into science and technology, as well as human resource development.

According to Ambassador Ito Naoki, cooperation between universities in Vietnam and Japan under the NEXUS programme has made progress in the semiconductor sector, with the two sides having established five joint research groups involving universities from both countries.

Building on these results, the two countries are expected to select up to 10 joint semiconductor research projects in the next phase, with a view to welcoming around 250 Vietnamese students to doctoral programmes in Japan for further study and research.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki speaks at a press briefing marking the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations. (Photo: Trung Anh)

In the defence sector, Vietnam and Japan continue to translate into practice initiatives aimed at strengthening maritime law-enforcement capacity, with particular emphasis on the implementation of the Official Security Assistance (OSA) programme.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang's visit to Japan in July marked the first visit by a Vietnamese Defence Minister to Japan in five years, providing fresh impetus to bilateral defence cooperation.

During his talks with Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in the defence industry, including research, development and the joint production of defence equipment.

Building on this direction, Ambassador Ito Naoki said representatives of Japan's Ministry of Defence and Japanese defence companies would actively participate in the upcoming Vietnam International Defence Expo in December, thereby creating further opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry.

Alongside science and technology and defence, the green transition and energy security are also emerging as areas of growing interest for cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends the Expanded AZEC Summit on Energy Autonomy on 15 April. (Source: VGP)

Under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, Vietnam and Japan are promoting 15 pilot energy projects with a combined scale of approximately US$20 billion, aimed at supporting Vietnam's green transition and strengthening its energy security.

Ambassador Ito Naoki said Japan is particularly interested in power-generation projects using domestically produced natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). To advance these projects, Vietnam is working with relevant agencies to finalise the necessary mechanisms as part of the ongoing revision of the Electricity Law.

Beyond bilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Japan are also continuing to strengthen coordination through regional and international mechanisms.

As Vietnam assumes the role of Chair of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Japan has pledged to coordinate closely with Vietnam while strengthening cooperation within ASEAN and the Mekong subregion.

The two sides are also continuing to coordinate at regional and international forums, contributing to ASEAN's role and promoting greater regional connectivity.

Referring to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Ambassador Ito Naoki expressed confidence that Vietnam would successfully host APEC Year 2027 and spoke highly of the preparations for the important event.

He affirmed that Japan would continue to stand alongside Vietnam, coordinate closely and make active contributions, helping ensure the success of APEC Year 2027 in Vietnam.

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