The "Vietnam - Japan Partnership: Cooperation and Development in the Context of Global Turmoil" Forum was recently held, affirming that the bilateral relationship is entering its strongest development phase, especially following the upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (November 2023). Experts and representatives from both countries discussed new cooperation opportunities in green transition, digital economy, and infrastructure development, while also pointing out implementation gaps in environmental commitments that need to be addressed.
In his opening speech, Mr. Pham Quang Hieu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, emphasized that the upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership marked a major political-diplomatic step forward and established the most comprehensive cooperation framework in over 50 years. The Ambassador particularly praised Japan's commitment to promoting digital transformation, green transition, innovation, and science and technology—key drivers that will help Vietnam realize its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2045.
Trade and Investment Relations at Their Best
According to Mr. Ta Duc Minh, Commercial Counselor of Vietnam in Japan, the relationship is demonstrated by positive trade and investment flows:
• Trade: In the first 7 months of 2025, total bilateral turnover reached nearly 29 billion USD (an increase of nearly 10% compared to the same period in 2024), with Vietnam achieving a trade surplus of 1.37 billion USD (key commodities: textiles, footwear, processed agricultural products, and electronics).
• Investment (FDI): Japan continues to be a strategic investor with 5,608 FDI projects and a total registered capital of 79.4 billion USD. In the first 8 months of 2025 alone, new registered capital reached nearly 877.9 million USD, focusing on manufacturing, processing, electronic components, real estate, and renewable energy. Mr. Minh emphasized that the FDI flow from Japan is of high quality and efficiency, demonstrating that Vietnam is an attractive and safe destination.
Proposing 4 New Cooperation Directions and Addressing Environmental Gaps
Alongside favorable conditions like a stable political environment and an extensive FTA network (CPTPP, RCEP, VJEPA), Mr. Ta Duc Minh also pointed out challenges stemming from geopolitical turbulence, technical barriers to Vietnamese agricultural products, and limitations in deep processing and supply chain management. He proposed four new cooperation directions:
1. Green Transition – Circular Economy.
2. Digital Economy.
3. Infrastructure – Logistics.
4. High-Quality Agricultural and Food Products.
From an academic perspective, Dr. Vu Duy (University of Economics – Vietnam National University, Hanoi) presented research on the dissemination of environmental standards through Japan's trade agreements. The research indicated that:
• Major multilateral agreements (such as CPTPP, Japan – EU) are highly regarded for their institutional and monitoring mechanisms, while some bilateral agreements have low levels of environmental integration.
• The gap in climate cooperation remains large (about 70% lack trilateral cooperation), and climate clauses often lack binding nature.
Dr. Vu Duy proposed solutions: narrowing the implementation gap, expanding the dispute settlement mechanism to apply to environmental clauses as a mandatory standard, strengthening the monitoring system and periodic review cycles, and concretizing climate commitments linked to the Paris Agreement.
Infrastructure Cooperation Must Shift from Aid to Equality
Dr. Phan Huu Duy Quoc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Construction Corporation No. 1 (CC1), recalled Japan's significant imprint on Vietnam's infrastructure development through ODA capital, technology, and experience (Hai Van Tunnel, Can Tho Bridge, Nhat Tan Bridge, Metro Line No. 1...).
However, in the face of fierce competition and the gradual reduction of ODA, Dr. Quoc asserted that the cooperation relationship needs to move into a new phase: shifting from unilateral support to equal partnership between enterprises of the two countries. He affirmed the desire to partner with Japanese counterparts on equal footing to jointly increase competitive advantages in the market and implement high-quality, sustainable infrastructure projects in Vietnam.