The Prime Minister expressed his intention to transform Vietnam-Japan investment relations into a partnership for mutual development and creation, and hosted a working session with Japanese companies in Hue City. Against the backdrop of proposals from Japanese organizations, the meeting reported on and discussed expanding cooperation between Vietnam and Japan and strengthening ties between companies in the two countries.
On the morning of 6 September, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chaired a working session in Hue City as part of the Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum 2026, co-hosted by Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hue City and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. Senior representatives from the Japanese side, including the Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, JICA and Japanese business organizations, attended the meeting.
Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam Ito Naoki (伊藤直樹) praised Vietnam for setting out its development direction in areas including science and technology, innovation, AI, semiconductors, digital transformation, green transformation and administrative reform. He said Japan wanted to expand cooperation under the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership.
According to data reported at the meeting, Vietnam-Japan bilateral trade totaled approximately US$33.7 billion in 2026, up year on year, with exports from Vietnam to Japan of approximately US$17.6 billion and imports from Japan of approximately US$16.1 billion, both of which increased.
Japan's investment in Vietnam totaled approximately US$80.3 billion cumulatively, while cumulative ODA was said to amount to approximately ¥3 trillion. Japanese companies proposed measures involving infrastructure, human-resource development, technology transfer and supply-chain strengthening. The Prime Minister instructed officials to review progress on these proposals based on a roadmap and called for transparency in their handling.
Looking ahead, the two countries confirmed a policy of transforming bilateral investment into mutual development, creation, joint research and joint production, and deepening cooperation in priority areas including digital transformation, science and technology, innovation and semiconductors. Japanese companies are expected to support deeper supply-chain integration with Vietnamese companies and promote a new generation of ODA.