Vietnam – Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership yielding substantive results

Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in September 1973, laying a firm foundation for the extensive development of bilateral ties over the following decades.

In 2002, both countries set up a Reliable and Long-term Stable Partnership before later upgrading it to a Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia in 2009, an Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia in 2014, and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World in 2023.

Over the past year, despite facing changes in key leadership in both countries, high-level dialogues and exchanges have expanded and deepened across various fields, including economic, trade, and investment links, security, human resource development, and people-to-people exchanges, shared Ambassador Naoki in an interview recently granted to VOV.

Economically, he noted that many Japanese companies have been expanding operations in the Vietnamese market. Tokuyama established a subsidiary in August this year to produce semiconductor components, while Rorze Robotech opened a new factory in Hai Phong in October. In addition, Tokyo Gas and Kyuden International teamed up with a Vietnamese partner to set up a liquefied natural gas power plant in Thai Binh province in March.

Vietnam’s impressive economic growth has also drawn significant attention from Japanese retail businesses. Over the past year, Aeon Mall opened a new shopping centre in Hue to bring its total to seven in Vietnam, while Uniqlo now operates 23 stores across the country.

In terms of transportation, Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, initially began trial operations in October. Regarding digital transformation, Japan provided equipment worth JPY500 million this year to upgrade Vietnam’s National Population Database Center, a factor contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.

Beyond emergency aid, the Ambassador said that Japan is working with Vietnamese ministries and agencies in order to prepare loans for improving infrastructure in northern provinces, a move which will further enhance their capacity to address natural disasters and climate change.

Along with traditional areas of cooperation, both sides are also enhancing security ties, including in maritime security.

This year has seen Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) provide anti-corrosion technology and material transport vehicles to the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense. The Japan Coast Guard is also fulfilling its commitment to deliver six patrol vessels to the Vietnam Coast Guard.

Priority areas for cooperation

Japan hopes to continue partnering with Vietnam in this era of robust development to foster mutually beneficial cooperation, said the Ambassador.

Japan stands ready to support the country to achieve tangible results in areas where it has substantial expertise, such as transportation infrastructure, energy, and digital transformation, all of which are priority areas as identified by the Vietnamese Government, he added.

In his view, the Vietnamese economy is expected to grow even more strongly over the coming years, presenting further opportunities for Japanese businesses seeking to expand their presence in the market.

Meanwhile, Japan represents the most desired destination for Vietnamese people seeking overseas employment. This year, Japan began conducting specified skills exams in Vietnam across five fields of nursing care, agriculture, automobile maintenance, hospitality, and construction. Exams for two new fields, food service and food and beverage production, are also planned.

Currently, Vietnamese workers under the specified skills programme account for half of all foreign labour in Japan, making a significant contribution to the country’s socio-economic development.

Japan aims to create a better environment for Vietnamese workers to not only work, but to also enjoy a happy and fulfilling life in the country, affirmed the Ambassador.