Enhancing Vietnam-Japan local cooperation: Heavenly time, favorable location, and harmony between people

In the overall Vietnam-Japan relationship, local cooperation continues to be expanded, developed effectively and substantially; becoming a practical channel to enhance cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, investment, trade, tourism and labor, while consolidating the foundation of friendship between the two peoples.

General Secretary To Lam received Ms. Obuchi Yuko, Member of the Japanese National Assembly and Chairwoman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance on August 7. (Source: VNA)

Practical and effective cooperation channel

Japan is currently one of Vietnam's most important economic partners: Leading in ODA and labor cooperation, third in investment and tourism, and fourth in trade. After nearly two years of upgrading relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world, the Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation continue to develop strongly, substantially and comprehensively in all fields with the foundation of political trust, long-standing people-to-people exchanges and complementary strengths. The two sides have agreed to establish a new pillar of cooperation in science, technology and innovation, towards sustainable development.

It can be affirmed that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is a successful model of bilateral cooperation, built on the foundation of more than 50 years of political trust, cultural similarities and historical ties.

Within that overall source, Vietnam-Japan local cooperation continues to be expanded, developed effectively and substantially; becoming an important and practical pillar of cooperation to strengthen cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, investment, trade, tourism and labor... while consolidating the foundation of friendship between the two peoples.

I think that Vietnam-Japan local cooperation is in a position of "heavenly time, geographical advantage, and harmony of people" because:

Firstly, in terms of scale, more than 110 cooperation agreements have been signed between localities of the two countries, creating a wide-ranging network, with typical cooperation pairs such as Ho Chi Minh City with Osaka, Hanoi with Fukuoka, Quang Ninh with Hokkaido, Tottori and Da Nang with Sakai, Yokohama... Currently, there are more than 2,500 Japanese enterprises operating across many provinces and cities of Vietnam. Local cooperation has developed evenly in all fields with a focus on trade and investment, high-quality agriculture, human resources, science and technology, innovation and climate change. The Japanese business community in Vietnam has been formed over a long period of time, "taking root" in many areas of Vietnam, continuing to expand and tending to have long-term ties with the market of 100 million people.

Second , cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese localities has always received support, assistance and facilitation from the two governments. With the strong desire for Vietnam-Japan cooperation to expand, the two countries' senior leaders have repeatedly proposed that cooperation between localities should not be limited to traditional fields but should be expanded to new fields.

The establishment of the Local Cooperation Forum mechanism between the two countries was emphasized in the Joint Statement on Upgrading Vietnam-Japan Relations on November 27, 2023. At the meeting on April 28, 2025, the two Prime Ministers agreed to actively coordinate to organize the Vietnam-Japan Local Forum by the end of 2025. The Vietnamese Government hopes that Japanese enterprises will not only invest financially but also share experiences and transfer technology in the fields of green transformation, circular economy and corporate governance.

Third , the "heavenly time, favorable location, and harmony of people" is also demonstrated in the aspect that domestically, the arrangement and organization of the two-level government model starting from July 1, 2025 has created a major shift in the local governance and development model. Decentralization and delegation of power continue to be strongly and substantially implemented by central and local ministries and branches; contributing to creating favorable conditions for localities to promote foreign affairs and international cooperation to promote potentials and strengths, and attract external resources to serve the goal of socio-economic development, in which Japan is a particularly targeted partner.

Fourth , the bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements that the two sides participate in, especially the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA); the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP); the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), are becoming driving forces to promote economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, and businesses of the two countries will be the beneficiaries of these free trade agreements.

President Luong Cuong received Mr. Nakasone Yasutaka, Member of the House of Representatives, Head of the Youth Committee of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), and a 60-member Youth Committee delegation, including National Assembly members, local lawmakers, representatives of the private sector and students, who visited Vietnam from August 20-22. (Source: People's Army)

“Development together - Creating a sustainable future”

The Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Quang Ninh Province, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam and the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province, is meaningful as a response to many cherished expectations, demonstrating the determination to enhance the local connection between the two sides. The Forum is the first local-level dialogue and connection mechanism of the two countries, focusing on promoting substantive and effective cooperation in traditional fields, towards new fields where both sides have strengths and needs.

With the theme "Accompanying development - Creating a sustainable future", the Vietnam - Japan Local Cooperation Forum is a comprehensive connection activity, combining diverse contents on economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchange with specific orientations:

Summarizing and evaluating the results of Vietnam-Japan local cooperation in recent times: Through the directives of senior leaders, exchanging opinions and evaluating the effectiveness of local cooperation between the two countries in various fields, signed cooperation agreements; sharing typical cooperation models, experiences in implementing cooperation, difficulties, limitations and causes.

Discussing specific contents to promote local cooperation between the two countries in different fields: Discussing and discussing through thematic sessions on cooperation in areas that are being prioritized by the two countries such as economy, trade, investment, labor, high technology, cultural cooperation, people-to-people exchange, focusing on requirements in the context of Vietnamese localities having just officially put into operation the two-level government organization model.

Building orientations for Vietnam-Japan local cooperation in the new development stage: Proposing orientations to promote Vietnam-Japan local cooperation in the coming time with specific fields and implementation measures, based on the actual needs of the two countries' localities and feasibility in implementation.

Promoting culture and introducing typical products of the two countries: The Vietnam-Japan local exhibition is held within the framework of the Forum with cultural exchange activities and booths displaying typical products of the two countries' localities; creating space for localities, organizations and businesses of the two countries to promote their images and introduce their potentials and strengths, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and connection.

Strengthening connections between localities and businesses of the two countries through bilateral meetings: Localities and businesses of the two countries directly connect and exchange on specific cooperation needs through bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Forum.

Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu received Mr. Nishimura Teiichi, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in the Kansai region on November 5. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

Trusted companion

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will accompany every effort to enhance the Vietnam-Japan local cooperation. Deeply aware that local diplomacy is one of the important components of foreign affairs, in the past and in the future - the new era of the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has always identified local diplomacy as a key task, "taking the locality as the center of service", with the spirit of service, service and the highest responsibility.

Standing side by side as a "trusted companion" across the S-shaped strip of land, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has effectively supported localities in developing and implementing foreign affairs programs and plans, gradually realizing the aspiration to promote international integration and cooperation, and practically contributing to the socio-economic development process of localities.

In the spirit of companionship, support and coordination, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is extremely pleased that conferences promoting investment, trade and tourism with foreign partners, including Japan, have "blossomed" in many localities. FDI is present in all provinces and cities across the country. Foreign non-governmental aid has contributed significantly to hunger eradication, poverty reduction and socio-economic development in Vietnamese localities... The vibrant piece of local foreign affairs blends harmoniously into the flow of foreign affairs of the whole country.

I believe that, with the elaborate preparation process and great expectations from both sides, held in Quang Ninh - a dynamic coastal land, one of the pioneering localities of the country in the international integration process, the Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum will be a great success, becoming a reliable destination, fostering the cooperation aspirations of the two countries' localities, adding to the bright picture of the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World" Vietnam-Japan relationship.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nang-tam-hop-tac-dia-phuong-viet-nam-nhat-ban-thien-thoi-dia-loi-nhan-hoa-335461.html