Vietnamese PM hosts official reception for Japanese counterpart

Prime Minister Ishiba and his spouse arrived in Hanoi on Sunday for a three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of PM Chinh and his wife, marking his first visit to the Southeast Asian country in his capacity as prime minister.

PM Chinh and his spouse greeted their Japanese counterparts at the vehicle stop, where the Japanese guests were presented with bouquets of flowers by children from Hanoi.

The two prime ministers and their spouses then walked together along the red carpet toward the ceremony area. 

The national anthems of both countries were played as the two government leaders ascended the honor podium.

PM Chinh later invited his Japanese counterpart to review the honor guard.

After the welcome ceremony, the two prime ministers walked from the Presidential Palace to the nearby Government Office, where they viewed an exhibition showcasing the Vietnam-Japan relationship before beginning their talks.

Ishiba’s visit also marks the first visit by a Japanese prime minister since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in November 2023.

In his meeting with Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam on Sunday evening, PM Ishiba affirmed that Vietnam is an indispensable partner of Japan and praised Vietnam's proactive and positive role in the international and regional landscape.

During his trip, which will last until Tuesday, the Japanese leader is expected to meet with other senior Vietnamese leaders, attend a Vietnam-Japan business forum, and participate in other key activities.

At a recent press briefing with Vietnamese media, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki affirmed that Vietnam, with its market of over 100 million consumers and significant economic growth potential, is a top priority in Japan’s foreign policy.

Japan aims to deepen cooperation in Vietnam’s priority areas, including digital transformation, green transition, semiconductor development, and high-quality human resource training, he added.

Currently, Japan stands as Vietnam’s largest bilateral supplier of official development assistance (ODA), top partner in labor cooperation, third-largest foreign investor, and fourth-largest partner in trade and tourism.