In a press briefing on April 23, ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's upcoming official visit to Vietnam, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki emphasized that strengthening relations with Vietnam is a cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy.

Japan expects to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in key emerging sectors like digital transformation, green transition, innovation, and science and technology, as the latter strives to become a  developed country by 2045, according to the Japanese ambassador.

The ambassador was quoted by the Government News as saying that Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru's  upcoming visit is expected to reaffirm the shared commitment between the two countries to enhance cooperation in critical areas such as security and defense, economic growth, and addressing both regional and global challenges.

Ambassador Ito highlighted Japan's focus on advancing high-level diplomacy to promote its "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy, which upholds a rule-based international order.

Praising Vietnam's rapid reforms under the leadership of Party General Secretary To Lam, the Ambassador noted that the ongoing transformation presents an opportunity for Japan to deepen its engagement. "This is a new era for Vietnam," the Japanese diplomat said, adding that "Japan is eager to support this journey and contribute to peace and prosperity in the region and beyond."

According to the ambassador, during the visit, the two sides are expected to discuss the progress of 15 renewable energy projects in Vietnam, with a total investment of up to $20 billion. These initiatives are part of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), a Japan-led initiative aimed at promoting decarbonization across the region.

Ambassador Ito also revealed plans to expand cooperation in areas such as semiconductor training, defense technology, labor, tourism, and Japanese language education for Vietnamese citizens.

"The visit by Prime Minister Shigeru will lay the groundwork for in-depth discussions that will further unlock opportunities for collaboration between our two nations," the ambassador said, stressing the growing importance of bilateral cooperation amid a rapidly changing global landscape.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his spouse will pay an official visit to Vietnam from April 27 to 29.

In November 2023, the two countries signed a Joint Statement on the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World.