Hanoi (VNA) On the one-year anniversary of his term in Vietnam, Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki affirmed Japan’s commitment to supporting development in Vietnam as the country embarks on a new era of reform and growth.
Speaking to VietnamPlus, Ito reflected on his first year in office, having visited nearly 30 provinces from Cao Bang in the North to Ca Mau in the South.
He said his trips across Vietnam had given him a strong impression of a vibrant society filled with confidence and optimism about the country’s future.
His latest visit took him to Ho Chi Minh City to attend celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.
He added that the enthusiasm of the young generation - the future owners of Vietnam - left a strong impression on him, as they joined in singing songs like ‘Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh’ and ‘Let the Story of Peace go on’ late into the night, radiating a sense of joy and hope for the future.
A testament to deep mutual trust
Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s official visit to Vietnam in late April, including his talks with General Secretary To Lam, and meetinsg with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and other senior leaders, underscored the deep trust between the two countries.
The Ambassador noted that Prime Minister Ishiba conveyed Japan’s strong backing for Vietnam’s reform agenda in the new era, reaffirming Japan’s role as a trusted and essential partner committed to contributing its strengths to Vietnam’s economic development.
At the meetings, leaders identified strategic infrastructure, semiconductors, digital and green transition, disaster prevention, human resources, and supply chains as key pillars of future cooperation—sectors that will be crucial to Vietnam’s long-term growth.
Cooperation in semiconductors, green energy
In the semiconductor field, Japan plans to offer scholarships and training opportunities to 250 Vietnamese doctoral students in the next five years. A new semiconductor training programme will also be launched this autumn at Vietnam-Japan University.
Meanwhile, in green energy, both sides will jointly implement 15 projects worth a total of 20 billion USD, covering areas such as offshore wind power and LNG thermal power.
Over the past 40 years, Japan has been Vietnam’s largest ODA donor, with total aid reaching 21.2 billion USD (approximately 3.77 trillion yen).
Looking ahead, Japan will continue to expand ODA cooperation in urban railway development, climate change adaptation, water management, and capacity-building for Vietnam’s waterway police.
Trade, investment, and people-to-people ties
Japan currently ranks as Vietnam’s third-largest investor, with total capital of 77.7 billion USD. Bilateral trade has nearly doubled over the past decade, approaching 50 billion USD annually.
As for people-to-people exchanges, some 630,000 Vietnamese are currently living and working in Japan. The country continues to be a top destination for young Vietnamese talents. The Japanese government is also rolling out a new employment system designed to support skill development and create favourable working conditions for foreign workers.
Ambassador Ito highlighted the popularity of the Vietnamese Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai, which showcases traditional musical performances and water puppetry. He expressed his hope that the Expo would encourage more Vietnamese tourists to explore Japan’s renowned landmarks and cultural sites.
Cooperation in global diplomacy
In a shifting geopolitical landscape, Vietnam has put forward several diplomatic initiatives, including hosting the ASEAN Future Forum and the P4G Summit.
Japan hopes to work closely with Vietnam to enhance its global standing and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Ambassador Ito said he felt privileged to work in Vietnam during a period of significant reform, and affirmed his commitment to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World./.
