Hanoi, July 23, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnam and Japan on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with leaders from both sides pledging to expand cooperation in human resource development, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and parliamentary exchanges.
The commitment came during a meeting in Hanoi between Politburo member, Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Organisation Commission and Chairman of the Vietnam–Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Nguyễn Duy Ngọc, and Executive Acting Secretary-General of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Hagiuda Koichi, who is leading an LDP delegation on a visit to Vietnam.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over the strong progress in bilateral relations across a wide range of sectors, noting that the official visit of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to Vietnam in May 2026 had injected fresh momentum into cooperation between the two countries and their ruling parties.
Briefing the Japanese delegation on Vietnam’s economic performance, Ngọc said the country’s economy remained one of the region’s brightest performers, recording GDP growth of 8.02 percent in 2025 and an estimated 8.18 percent during the first half of 2026, the highest first-half growth rate since 2011.
He said Vietnam had maintained macroeconomic stability, kept inflation under control and continued attracting strong foreign direct investment, reflecting growing international investor confidence.
Ngọc also highlighted Vietnam’s ongoing administrative reforms, including the implementation of a two-tier local government model and expanded decentralisation aimed at improving governance and public service delivery.
He expressed appreciation for Japan’s longstanding support through official development assistance (ODA) and high-quality investment, particularly the contributions of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has helped train nearly 500 Vietnamese officials and managers in recent years.
The Vietnamese leader proposed that Japan share its experience in local governance and decentralisation while supporting Vietnam’s institutional reform efforts.
To further strengthen bilateral cooperation, Ngọc called for making human resource development a central pillar of the partnership, proposing Japanese support for a training programme for Vietnamese officials during 2026–2028 and the establishment of a leadership development and networking initiative for outstanding Vietnamese professionals under the age of 35.
He also suggested expanding collaboration in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green transition, semiconductor development, economic security and quantum technology, while promoting closer exchanges between the parliamentary friendship groups of both countries and encouraging greater participation by young legislators and local council representatives.
Ngọc further requested Japan to continue supporting the nearly 700,000-member Vietnamese community living in Japan and to consider simplifying visa procedures with a view to gradually introducing visa-free travel for Vietnamese citizens.
Hagiuda congratulated Ngọc on his appointment as Chairman of the Vietnam–Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group and said the successful visit of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae had opened new opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation.
He reaffirmed the Liberal Democratic Party’s commitment to strengthening exchanges with the Communist Party of Vietnam and enhancing cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures.
Hagiuda also voiced support for Vietnam’s proposals, affirming that Japan would continue promoting cooperation in green energy, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital transformation and parliamentary exchanges.
During the meeting, Director of the LDP International Bureau Taro Kono proposed expanding exchanges between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Communist Party of Vietnam and increasing the frequency of high-level delegation visits to further consolidate bilateral relations.
