According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, the visit carries significant importance, demonstrating Japan’s high regard for the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as both countries enter a new stage of development.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on May 1, 2026. Photo by Read/ Giang Huy |
He noted that Vietnam is the first country in the region visited by PM Takaichi following her re-election in February 2026, reflecting Vietnam’s important position in Japan’s regional policy.
The visit is expected to further strengthen political trust, enhance high-level strategic exchanges, and inject new momentum into bilateral cooperation, making it more substantive and effective.
Discussions are set to focus on priority areas aligned with the strengths of both sides, including economic cooperation, science and technology, innovation, energy and food security, semiconductor production, artificial intelligence (AI), green transition, high-quality human resources development, tourism, local-level cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as closer coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern. In addition to science and technology, key areas of interest include energy cooperation, smart and high-tech agriculture, infrastructure development, and strengthening resilient supply chains.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said this marks PM Takaichi’s second visit to Vietnam, following her previous trip in 2020 when she served as Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications
He affirmed that Japan looks forward to strengthening ties with Vietnam’s leaders, including Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. The visit will provide an opportunity to reaffirm enhanced coordination under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework and to address regional and global challenges.
A series of high-level meetings are expected to take place, covering issues such as energy, economic security, rare earths, and people-to-people and academic exchanges between the two countries, he said.
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi on May 1, 2026. Photo by Read/ Giang Huy |
Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973 and became Comprehensive Strategic Partners in 2023. Japan is Vietnam’s largest ODA donor, a key labor cooperation partner, and the fourth-largest partner in tourism and trade.
Vietnam-Japan import and export turnover exceeded US$51.43 billion in 2025.
The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam reported that trade turnover from January to March this year increased by 12.7% compared to the same period last year and is expected to reach $60 billion by 2027.
As of Jan. 31, 2026, Japan had 5,722 active investment projects in Vietnam with a total investment of $78.9 billion, ranking third among 153 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.
In the semiconductor sector, Vietnam aims to train 500 doctoral students by 2030, and Japan has announced it will accept approximately half of them through international collaborative research programs.
There are over 680,000 Vietnamese people living in Japan, making them the second largest foreign community in the country.
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