Japanese PM Ishiba arrives in Hanoi, beginning three-day visit

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his spouse, together with a high-level Japanese delegation, arrived in Vietnam on Sunday for a three-day official visit from April 27 to 29.

The visit, at the invitation of Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, will be PM Ishiba's first trip to Vietnam since taking office.

It also marks the first official visit to the country by a Japanese PM since bilateral relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World in November 2023, commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Welcoming the delegation at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu.

The delegation accompanying PM Ishiba on this visit includes Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Aoki Kazuhiko, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Nagashima Akihisa, Mori Masafumi and Iijima Isao, Secretary-General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat Okano Masataka, the Prime Minister’s Secretaries Tsuchimichi Akihiro, Tanaka Mao, Nakashima Akihiro, Inoue Hiroo, Yoshino Koji, and Kaihara Kentaro; and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki.

Sharing with the press about the Japanese Government leader’s visit to Vietnam, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki stated that the visit aims to strengthen relations with Southeast Asia, which is currently the center of global economic growth and a region of strategic importance. Strengthening ties with Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, is one of Japan’s top diplomatic priorities.

The Japanese Government hopes that this visit will provide an opportunity for PM Ishiba to further enhance personal trust with Vietnamese leaders, as well as to reaffirm bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence and security, economic collaboration, and addressing regional and international challenges.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, during this visit, the two countries’ leaders will focus on deep discussions regarding strategic cooperation areas.

Japan will continue to support Vietnam in achieving its three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, thereby assisting Vietnam’s industrialization and modernization. Economic, trade, and investment cooperation remains the central pillar of bilateral relations.

As Japan is currently Vietnam’s leading economic partner, particular attention will be given to topics such as improving the investment environment, promoting supply chain connectivity, and expanding market access for each other’s goods.

Both sides are striving to expedite market access for Vietnamese pomelos and Japanese grapes, and are discussing the possibility of further opening their markets to other fruits and agricultural products, such as Vietnamese passionfruit and Japanese peaches.

Additionally, the two sides will explore new pillars of cooperation to align with evolving circumstances.