Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his spouse, along with a high-ranking Japanese delegation, left Hanoi in the morning of April 29, concluding his three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse.
During his stay in Vietnam, Ishiba and his spouse laid a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and at the Monument of Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son street, near the mausoleum.
Party General Secretary To Lam met with PM Ishiba, while President Luong Cuong and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man also held meetings with the Japanese leader.
PM Chinh chaired the official welcome ceremony, bilateral talks, and a state banquet in honour of PM Ishiba. The two leaders witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents between ministries and agencies of both countries, held a joint press conference, and announced key outcomes of their discussions. They also delivered important speeches at the Vietnam–Japan Cooperation Forum on strategic industries, high technology, green transition, and semiconductors.
At meetings and events, Vietnamese leaders warmly welcomed the Japanese PM’s visit, which coincided with Vietnam’s 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. They emphasised the significance of the visit in opening a new chapter in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan, and congratulated Japan on the Osaka Kansai Expo 2025.
Ishiba expressed his delight at returning to Vietnam after 35 years, and for the first time as Prime Minister, coinciding with the celebration of April 30 victory. He expressed admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation. Ishiba thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for their warm hospitality, affirming Japan’s commitment to standing alongside Vietnam in the new era, supporting Vietnam's economic growth, self-reliant development, and national industrialisation and modernisation.
Both sides expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive development of the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership nearly two years after it was elevated to a new level. They discussed and reached broad consensus on major directions and measures to further deepen ties based on the principles of "sincerity, affection, trust, substance, effectiveness, and mutual benefit" across five key pillars: political relations; economic cooperation and human resources connectivity; security and defense; science, technology, and green transformation; and collaboration at multilateral forums.
Vietnam and Japan agreed to closely coordinate at regional and international forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN, particularly in light of the rapidly evolving global situation, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
On this occasion, the two countries issued a Vietnam–Japan Joint Communique.
As part of the visit, PM Chinh and his spouse joined PM Ishiba and his spouse for breakfast, enjoying Vietnamese coffee and visiting the Vietnam National Museum of History.
PM Ishiba visited the Vietnam–Japan University under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi – a symbol of bilateral educational cooperation – as well as the Thang Long Industrial Park, where he toured Canon Vietnam’s factory and interacted with representatives of Japanese enterprises.
Madame Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Party General Secretary To Lam, and Madame Ishiba Yoshiko participated in a traditional Hanoi green rice cake-making activity. Madame Le Thi Bich Tran, spouse of PM Chinh, and Madame Ishiba Yoshiko visited the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism.
Madame Ishiba also toured the Vietnam Women's Museum and visited several educational institutions with ties to Japan in Hanoi.
PM Ishiba’s official visit to Vietnam concluded successfully, opening a new era of closer, more effective bilateral relations, serving the interests of both peoples, and contributing to regional and global cooperation and development./.
