Vietnam, Japan discuss cooperation in culture, sports, and copyright protection

At the meeting, Minister Matsumoto praised Vietnam's rich history and cultural heritage, emphasizing that stringent copyright protection and anti-infringement policies are vital for promoting the country's cultural assets globally.

 Drawing on Japan's experience, he affirmed Tokyo's readiness to assist Hanoi in establishing comprehensive legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms. He stressed that implementation is key, specifically the prompt detection and strict deterrence of violations, and expressed hope for closer institutional coordination between the two ministries.

The Japanese official also noted that people-to-people exchanges serve as the foundation of bilateral relations, pointing to substantial potential in heritage conservation, museum curation, and exhibition cooperation.

He referenced the memorandum of understanding signed on August 21 between the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties and Ninh Binh province to launch joint archaeological surveys, research initiatives, and training programs at the Hoa Lu ancient capital heritage site. On sports, Matsumoto said that Japan will make every effort to ensure optimal preparation for its athletes to achieve peak performance.

In response, Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh welcomed Japan's proposals, while affirming Vietnam's desire to advance heritage preservation and museum management. She detailed ongoing legislative efforts, noting that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is drafting the Law on the Development of Cultural Industries and the Copyright Law, the latter of which is scheduled for submission to the National Assembly during the 2027-2028 period.

Alongside empowering the Copyright Office of Vietnam with forensic appraisal functions, the ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Public Security to detect infringements early and impose severe legal penalties.

Thanh requested continued Japanese support in legal institution-building and human resource training for copyright enforcement.

On this occasion, she formally invited the Japanese side to attend the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries, hosted by Vietnam as part of the APEC 2027 Year. Operating under the theme "Cultural and Creative Industries: A New Sustainable Growth Engine of the Economy," the event will serve as a platform for APEC member economies to explore the role of culture and creativity in boosting economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development.

Vietnam engages in RoK–Southeast Asia Copyright Forum 2025

Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Korea Copyright Commission (KCC) to organise a copyright conference and an inter-governmental meeting as part of the Republic of Korea (RoK) - Southeast Asia Copyright Forum 2025 that took place in Seoul from May 20-21.