Japan and Vietnam agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, defense and energy security as their leaders met in Tokyo on Monday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Vietnamese President and General Secretary To Lam announced 10 deals during the visit, marking the first time a Vietnamese Communist Party chief has traveled to Japan in 11 years. According to Bloomberg, the two nations pledged to boost bilateral trade to as much as $100 billion by 2030.
In a speech delivered to Japan’s parliament earlier on Monday, Lam stated that Hanoi seeks to advance technology and green energy projects, specifically targeting critical minerals for deeper processing and technology transfer, BusinessMirror reported. Takaichi noted that the discussions also covered gas-fired and LNG power generation projects involving Japanese companies, alongside nuclear energy cooperation.
The diplomatic engagement builds upon an agreement struck when Takaichi visited Hanoi in May, which established economic security as a new priority focused on artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and space technology.
BusinessMirror reported that Japanese trading house Sojitz Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding during Lam’s trip to acquire a 5-percent stake in tungsten and fluorspar producer Masan High-Tech Materials, while ANA and Vietnam Airlines announced a joint venture pact.
Vietnam remains heavily reliant on external trade and faces vulnerabilities to global supply disruptions, prompting Japan to pledge support for crude oil deliveries to the Nghi Son refinery.
Tokyo is also looking to deepen cooperation on rare earths and other critical minerals controlled by Vietnam.
Demographic ties also underpin the bilateral relationship, with Vietnamese nationals comprising the second-largest group of foreign residents in Japan. Government figures show over 680,000 Vietnamese citizens residing in Japan as of late 2025, providing essential labor through programs targeting severe workforce shortages in agriculture, nursing, and manufacturing.
