Prime Minister’s Condolences and Forum Overview
In a solemn beginning to the recent forum, the Prime Minister took a moment to express heartfelt condolences to the communities in Vietnam that were recently ravaged by floods. This empathetic gesture set a significant tone for what would be a pivotal event aimed at fostering collaboration between Vietnamese and Japanese localities. The forum represents a tangible outcome of discussions held during the official visit of former Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru to Vietnam in April 2025, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to cooperative progress.
Significance and Ambitions of the Forum
Prime Minister Chinh characterized the forum’s theme as both practical and strategic, emphasizing sincerity, mutual trust, and shared aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity. This gathering marks a vital step toward nurturing long-term, fruitful relationships between the two countries. Since upgrading their diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership two years ago, Vietnam and Japan have witnessed remarkable growth in bilateral cooperation.
Milestones of Bilateral Cooperation
During his speech, Chinh highlighted six key developments that illustrate the burgeoning partnership:
- Trade Expansion: Two-way trade between the nations has surged over 20%.
- Increased Investment: Japanese investments in Vietnam have jumped by more than USD 8 billion.
- Growing Migrant Community: The Vietnamese population residing in Japan has expanded by 20%.
- Local Agreements: More than ten local cooperation agreements have been forged.
- Vietnamese Ventures in Japan: Numerous Vietnamese localities and businesses are investing in Japan, particularly in sectors like digital transformation, tourism, healthcare, and labor exchange.
This gathering also holds symbolic significance, occurring shortly after Vietnam completed a restructuring of its administrative framework by implementing a two-tier local government model effective from July 1.
Vietnam’s Forward-looking Development Agenda
Prime Minister Chinh elaborated on Vietnam’s developmental focus, built upon three foundational pillars: open institutions, seamless infrastructure, and smart governance. By the end of 2025, Vietnam is set to accomplish remarkable infrastructural milestones, including the completion of 3,245 kilometers of expressways and over 1,700 kilometers of coastal roads. Notable projects such as the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport and the development of a new airport in Gia Binh, Bac Ninh, are expected to handle millions of passengers annually.
In addition, the construction of one of the world’s largest national exhibition centers, the revival of nuclear power projects, and the development of major power infrastructure are high on the agenda, all while ensuring investments in modern digital frameworks.
Strategic Directions for Deeper Cooperation
Chinh presented six strategic directions for advancing cooperation:
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Leveraging Complementary Strengths: The Prime Minister urged localities to adopt a proactive approach, identifying key sectors and actionable projects that align with each other’s needs and resources.
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Creating Business-Friendly Policies: Local governments should enhance dialogues with businesses to create conducive environments for investment, aiming to improve quality of life defined by better jobs, higher incomes, and enhanced working conditions.
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Enhancing People-to-People Exchanges: The forum aims to encourage cultural understanding and strengthen community ties between Vietnamese and Japanese localities through tourism and other collaborative efforts.
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Driving Innovation and Digital Transformation: Vietnam is encouraged to explore partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI), smart cities, and research and development centers, with the expectation of Japanese support in infrastructure development, particularly in AI and semiconductors.
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Focusing on Green Infrastructure: Chinh proposed collaborative efforts on green projects including urban flood control, waste treatment, smart agriculture, and renewable energy.
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Developing Human Resources: With Vietnam in a demographic “golden period” and Japan facing labor shortages, closer partnerships in training and labor cooperation are sought to benefit both nations.
Emphasizing Collaboration and Commitment
In showing solidarity with Japan’s Prime Minister Takaichi, who famously stated, “Work! Work! Work and Work!”, Chinh reinforced Vietnam’s commitment to collaborative efforts with Japanese localities and investors. His vision is anchored in the principle of “three togethers”: listening and understanding among governments, businesses, and citizens; sharing visions and actions for sustainable development; and working collaboratively to achieve mutual success.
Chinh expressed confidence that this forum would be a milestone in local cooperation efforts, igniting innovative initiatives under the principles of sincerity, affection, trust, effectiveness, and mutual benefit.