HCMC - Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his spouse are scheduled to pay an official visit to Vietnam from April 27 to 29, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Japanese leader’s visit is made at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse. PM Ishiba Shigeru took office as Japan’s Prime Minister in October 2024. Previously, he held several key positions, including Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Minister of Defense. Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973 and became comprehensive strategic partners in 2023. Japan is one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners, with cooperation spanning multiple sectors. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, two-way trade between the two countries reached US$46.2 billion in 2024, up 2.77% year-on-year. Notably, Vietnam’s exports to Japan totaled US$24.61 billion, up 5.55% from 2023, resulting in a trade surplus of US$1.23 billion. Japan is currently the third largest foreign investor in Vietnam, after South Korea and Singapore, among 149 countries and territories investing in the country. Japanese foreign investment is mainly concentrated in the manufacturing and processing industries, with major corporations such as Honda, Toyota, Canon, and Yamaha. Investments also cover other sectors, including energy, trade and services, education, and real estate.