The sixth Vietnam-Japan high-level agricultural cooperation dialogue took place in Tokyo on September 4, where Vietanam's acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang and Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Koizumi Shinjiro outlined a robust plan for expanded collaboration in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries.

The two officials jointly approved the third phase of the Vietnam-Japan medium-to-long-term vision for agricultural cooperation, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

Acting Minister Thang lauded Japan as a strategic partner, not only for its vital capital and technology but also for its invaluable management expertise and effective public-private partnership models. He highlighted that programs under this vision significantly strengthen Vietnam’s agricultural value chains, elevating product quality, broadening export markets, and driving sustainable, green growth initiatives.

To unlock further potential, Mr. Thang urged Japan to open its market to a wider range of Vietnamese agricultural products, specifically mentioning pomelos, passion fruit, and catfish. Both sides concurred on intensifying scientific and technological collaboration, with a focus on critical areas such as seed research, biotechnology, post-harvest preservation, and the transfer of cutting-edge tools including the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain.

Minister Koizumi expressed strong enthusiasm for deeper agricultural ties and extended an invitation for Vietnam to participate in the 2027 World Horticultural Exhibition in Yokohama. He also pressed for swifter progress on market access for Japanese products, including pomelos, grapes, and pufferfish.

On the same day, the Vietnam-Japan public-private dialogue on agricultural cooperation, hosted by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, convened nearly 200 business leaders from both nations.

During this dialogue, Acting Minister Thang encouraged Japanese firms to increase investment in deep processing and sustainable agricultural value chains, emphasizing models that incorporate shared benefits and risk distribution.

Minister Koizumi, in turn, affirmed that the public-private partnerships forged between Japan and Vietnam have created exemplary models, serving as valuable benchmarks for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the global community.

The event culminated with the signing of 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on business, trade, and investment between Vietnamese and Japanese companies, witnessed by both ministers.