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Vietnam-Japan Relations at Their Best Stage

At the opening of the Vietnam-Japan Forum 2025, themed “Vietnam-Japan Partnership: Cooperation and Development in a Time of Global Change,” held on October 3 in Hanoi, a representative of the Central Policy and Strategy Committee emphasized that the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan is built on trust and mutual benefit. In a rapidly changing world, their relationship not only carries economic significance but also contributes to maintaining regional peace, stability, and prosperity.

The Vietnam–Japan Forum 2025 themed “Vietnam-Japan Partnership: Cooperation and Development in a Time of Global Change” (Photo: VGP)

Professor Nishida Tatsuya from Tokai University (Japan) expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s development pace. He recalled that in 2008, when he first visited Hanoi, the road from Noi Bai Airport had only two lanes, but it has now expanded to six with modern infrastructure - an image symbolic of Vietnam’s dynamic transformation.

“Vietnam-Japan relations are also at their best stage, especially after the two countries officially upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World in November 2023. This milestone opened a new framework for cooperation in politics, economics, science and technology, and people-to-people exchange,” Nishida stated.

According to Ta Duc Minh, Vietnam’s Trade Counselor in Japan, bilateral trade in the first seven months of 2025 reached nearly 29 billion USD, up almost 10 percent from the same period in 2024. Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of 1.37 billion USD, with key exports including textiles, footwear, processed agricultural products, and electronics. Japan currently has 5,608 FDI projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital exceeding 79.4 billion USD. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, newly registered capital reached nearly 878 million USD, mainly in manufacturing, electronic components, real estate, and renewable energy.

“Japanese FDI flows are of high quality and efficiency, a positive signal showing that Vietnam continues to be a safe and attractive destination for investors,” he emphasized.

Expanding Cooperation in a New Phase

Minh noted that Vietnam’s stable political environment and extensive network of free trade agreements such as CPTPP, RCEP, and VJEPA provide favorable conditions for bilateral cooperation. However, challenges remain, including geopolitical tensions, technical barriers, limited deep processing capacity, and supply chain management. He proposed four new directions for cooperation: green transition and circular economy, digital economy, infrastructure and logistics, and high-quality agriculture.

From an academic perspective, Nguyen Anh Thu, Vice President of the University of Economics (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), affirmed the university’s role in connecting global knowledge for national development. The university is committed to serving as a bridge of knowledge between Vietnam and Japan, contributing to evidence-based policy solutions and promoting sustainable cooperation.

During the discussion session, participants agreed on the need to elevate economic, trade, and investment cooperation, particularly in high technology, renewable energy, smart infrastructure, and the digital economy. At the same time, developing high-quality human resources remains crucial. Japan is supporting Vietnam by training thousands of engineers and specialists through scholarship and on-site training programs. Expanding educational cooperation will help produce a workforce capable of meeting technological transformation demands.

Participants also emphasized the importance of strengthening the role of enterprises in the supply chain, encouraging Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply in global value chains to enhance management and production capacity in line with international standards. With Japan’s strengths in green technology and Vietnam’s strategic position in Southeast Asia, this cooperation holds both regional and global significance.

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan were established in 1973 and have developed for over 50 years. In November 2023, the two countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - a solid foundation for regional stability and prosperity. Amid global shifts in supply chains, digital transformation, and green transition, deepening strategic cooperation carries not only bilateral importance but also contributes to peace and development across the region.

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