Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum: Transitioning from 'exchange' to 'development partnership'
WVR - On the afternoon of November 25, as part of the Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum, four thematic discussion sessions took place, covering a wide range of topics.
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| Speakers discuss during Session 1 of the Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
The discussion sessions included: “Harnessing Local Strengths, Building a Prosperous Cycle: Trade Investment - High-Quality Agriculture - Human Resources”; “Journey of Convergence: Cultural Connection, Fostering Friendship”; “Vietnam-Japan Local Innovation: Combining Intelligence, Elevating Value, Creating a Digital Future”; and “Local Cooperation: Enhancing Resilience, Smart Adaptation to Climate Change”.
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| Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu speaks at Session 1. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Opening the session “Harnessing Local Strengths, Building a Prosperous Cycle: Trade Investment - High-Quality Agriculture - Human Resources”, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu emphasized that trade-investment, high-quality agriculture, and human resources are key areas crucial for local development in the new context.
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, East Asia is witnessing a significant shift in the supply chain. Japan is promoting diversification while Vietnam aims to upgrade growth quality with three major trends: Supply chains moving to regions with strong local connections, Japanese SMEs becoming the focus of local cooperation, and Japanese investment expanding in scale and value.
In the field of high-quality agriculture, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu suggested four directions for local cooperation, including: The “locality - enterprise - research institute” model; Japanese standard agricultural chains in Vietnam using Japanese techniques in breeding, cultivation, traceability, and procurement; cooperation in cold logistics for agricultural products; and the development of digital and smart agriculture using AI, sensors, and weather data.
Regarding human resources, a decisive factor for the success of local cooperation, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu noted that the two countries have complementary needs. Vietnam has a young, abundant workforce that needs skill enhancement, while Japan faces a shortage of technical labor, especially in local areas.
In light of this, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu suggested cooperation directions such as engineer-technician training programs tailored to the needs of Japanese and Vietnamese enterprises; a new generation of internships focusing on skills and returning to work locally; and Vietnam-Japan local human resource connection centers...
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Ngo Le Van and Special Advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomu witness the signing of cooperation documents between localities and enterprises of the two countries after Session 1. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu affirmed that local cooperation must shift from “exchange” to “development partnership”, and that the governments of both countries should consider businesses as strategic partners, enhancing transparency, stability, and efficiency in the investment environment, as businesses are not only investors but also “ambassadors” of trust and sustainable development.
Throughout the afternoon at the Forum, the discussion sessions received enthusiastic participation from representatives of government agencies, localities, and businesses from both countries to guide policies and government support mechanisms to facilitate local cooperation in trade investment, supply chain connectivity, and human resources. Delegates also exchanged and shared local experiences in developing high-quality agriculture, digital economy, finance and banking, smart supply chains, and training linkage models.
In the field of cultural cooperation, delegates actively presented views on government support policies for local cultural linkage, people-to-people connection, and tourism development; emphasizing the role of local governments, agencies, organizations, and associations in promoting cultural cooperation, tourism, and people-to-people exchange; leveraging heritage resources and developing sustainable tourism. Additionally, delegates proposed new cooperative activities to enhance understanding and bonds between the peoples of the two countries.
Innovation was also a key focus, with delegates sharing government policies and support mechanisms for high-tech development cooperation and encouraging innovation; recognizing the role of local governments, agencies, organizations, and businesses in connecting and developing the innovation ecosystem between Vietnamese and Japanese localities...
Some images from the thematic discussion sessions:
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| The Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum, themed “Comprehensive Development Partnership - Creating a Sustainable Future”, included an Opening Session, a Plenary Session in the morning, and four parallel thematic sessions in the afternoon, focusing on key areas such as trade, investment, high-quality agriculture, human resource development, culture, innovation, digital transformation, and climate change response. Within the Forum, there were over 100 direct connection and working activities among parties to seek cooperation opportunities. A highlight of the Forum was the Exhibition area with over 40 booths showcasing distinctive products from Vietnamese and Japanese localities, along with a cultural exchange experience area. This included a tea ceremony space and an introduction to the art of Dong Ho folk painting. |
