Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shiregu begins official visit to Vietnam
WVR - Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his spouse have arrived in Vietnam for a three-day official visit from April 27 to 29, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse.
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| Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shiregu and his spouse at the Noi Bai International Airport on April 27, 2025. (Photo: VNA) |
Prime Minister Ishiba Shiregu was warmly welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu.
The Prime Minister’s official visit highlights the Japanese Government’s high regard for Vietnam’s growing role and stature in the region, while underscoring the two nations' commitment to further deepening their comprehensive and substantive ties across multiple fields.
This trip also marks the first official visit to Vietnam by a Japanese Prime Minister since the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World in November 2023, commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
In recent months, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has actively engaged with Vietnamese leaders at major international forums. He met Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits in October 2024, President Luong Cuong at the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2024, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man during a visit to Tokyo in December 2024.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki noted that although Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has met several senior Vietnamese leaders, he has not yet held an official meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam. The upcoming engagements, therefore, present an important opportunity to further strengthen ties with Vietnam’s top leadership.
Praising Vietnam's rapid reforms under the leadership of Party General Secretary To Lam, the Ambassador emphasised that the ongoing transformation presents a valuable opportunity for Japan to deepen its engagement. "This is a new era for Vietnam," he stated. "Japan is eager to support Vietnam on this journey and to contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond."
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| It is Prime Minister Ishiba Shiregu's third visit to Southeast Asia since taking office in October 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu highlighted that Prime Minister Ishiba’s visit underscores Japan’s recognition of Vietnam’s growing role and influence in the region. He added that the two sides would engage in substantive discussions to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and further strengthen bilateral relations.
"This visit is not only an opportunity for the two sides to review the progress of their cooperation over recent years, but more importantly, to engage in extensive and substantive discussions on implementing the key pillars of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", said Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu.
The visit is expected to yield significant outcomes, including the signing of multiple cooperation agreements in science and technology, the green and digital economy, sustainable development, and the development of strategic infrastructure projects in transportation, energy, and electricity.
During his stay in Hanoi, Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, meet with other senior Party and State leaders, and participate in a series of important activities.
Vietnam is the first stop on Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s tour, which also includes the Philippines. At a regular press conference on April 23, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa stated that "one of Japan’s top diplomatic priorities is to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia, a major global growth driver and a strategically important area."
In 2024, Vietnam’s total trade with Japan reached 46.2 billion USD, marking a 2.7% increase compared to 2023. Of this, Vietnam’s exports to Japan totaled 24.6 billion USD, an increase of 5.5%, while imports from Japan amounted to 21.6 billion USD, a slight decrease of 0.2%.
| Among the G7 countries, Japan has consistently been the first to advance ties with Vietnam. It was the first to welcome the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam for an official visit in 1995, the first to establish a Strategic Partnership with Vietnam in 2009, the first to recognize Vietnam’s market economy status in 2011, and the first to invite Vietnam twice to attend the expanded G7 Summits in May 2016 and May 2023. |
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