Vietnam keen on boosting partnership with Japanese localities: official
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that Vietnam is keen on promoting partnership among localities of Vietnam and Japan, considering it as a substantial and effective cooperation channel for both sides to beef up bilateral ties in various fields
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) receives Vice Governor of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture Shimo Hiroshi (Photo: VGP)
Hanoi (VNA) – Permanent Deputy Prime MinisterPham Binh Minh has affirmed that Vietnam is keen on promoting partnership among localities of Vietnam and Japan, considering it as a substantial and effective cooperation channel for both sides to beef up bilateral ties in various fields.
In a reception for Vice Governor of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture Shimo Hiroshi in Hanoi on October 6, the official highlighted that the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategicpartnership is in prime time with high political trust despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and underlined that Japan has been a leading important economicpartner of Vietnam.
Bilateral economic, trade, investment, labour andeducation-training has been fruitful, he noted.
The Deputy PM said that partnership between localities ofthe two countries has been deepened.
He said he hopes Wakayama will continue toeffectively implement signed agreements with Vietnam, establish partnershipwith more Vietnamese localities, encourage local businesses to invest more inVietnam, strengthen cooperation in personneltraining, and expand the reception of Vietnamese practitioners and labourers towork in the prefecture.
For his part, the Japanese official said the prefecture is implementing an agriculturaland fisheries cooperation agreement with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agricultureand Rural Development, and a deal in in the field of industry with the Ministryof Industry and Trade.
The locality has also strengthened people-to-people exchangewith Vietnam, including a “lotus” exchange programme between Kinokawa city andQuang Nam province, which was initiated by the Chairman of the Japan – VietnamParliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, aiming to make lotus asymbol of spiritual connections between Vietnamese and Japanese people, hesaid.
He added that Wakayama is hastening the formation of aJapan-Vietnam Friendship Association in the locality and he will be the firstleader of the association./.
"Princess Anio" - a joint opera performance between Japan and Vietnam will be held at Hanoi Opera House in September 2023, heard a press conference in the central city of Da Nang on August 27.
The Vietnam-Japan relationship has been on the rise. Japan is Vietnam's leading official development assistance provider, third largest investor, third biggest source of tourists, and fourth trade partner of the Southeast Asian nation.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo on September 28, part of his trip to the Northeast Asian country to attend the state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation landed in Hanoi on September 28 afternoon, concluding their trip to Japan to attend the State funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
The ASEAN flag-hoisting ceremony is observed by the 10 ASEAN member countries on August 8 every year, aiming to spread and promote the ASEAN identity and affirm the determination to unite and cooperate for the common aspiration of long-term peace and prosperity of Southeast Asian countries under the common roof of the ASEAN Community.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong highlighted ASEAN’s nearly six decades of development, during which the region transformed from division to harmony, from confrontation to cooperation, and from poverty to dynamic growth, becoming a global bright spot for regional cooperation.
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) receives Vice Governor of Japan's Wakayama Prefecture Shimo Hiroshi (Photo: VGP) 
