Vietnam’s top leader’s Japan visit marks historic turning point in bilateral ties: former ambassador

A visit marked by unprecedented protocols

General Secretary and State President To Lam, First Lady Ngo Phuong Ly and a high-level Vietnamese delegation made an official visit to Japan from November 8 to 11, featuring one of the most diverse and extensive programs of any bilateral visit to date. 

Their engagements spanned politics and diplomacy, security and defense, the economy, culture, and exchanges between localities and people of the two countries.

The delegation's wide-ranging talks and meetings reflected a high degree of political trust between the two countries' leaders and peoples. This trust remains a valuable asset and a foundation for strengthening substantive bilateral ties over the coming decades.

Japan accorded the Vietnamese delegation both a grand and warm welcome, including what Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung described as 'numerous exceptional arrangements.'

The reception underscored Japan's high regard for bilateral relations, Vietnam's growing role and standing both regionally and globally, and the influence of the country's top leader.

Former Vietnamese ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said he was particularly impressed by Japan’s invitation for General Secretary and State President To Lam to deliver a policy address before both chambers of Japan's National Diet. 

The speech was warmly received by lawmakers, who gave him sustained applause.

Ambassdaor Nguyen Quoc Cuong described the invitation as a rare and highly prestigious diplomatic honor that Japan reserves for some of its most important partners.

Since 1958, only around 40 heads of state and world leaders have been given a similar opportunity, he said.

In his policy address, the top leader said Vietnam sought to build on its special friendship and mutual trust with Japan, ensuring both countries' development would bring shared opportunities, tangible benefits and contribute to regional peace and prosperity.

In response, during talks with President To Lam on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi affirmed that Vietnam was a priority partner in implementing Japan's foreign policy and realizing its new growth strategy. 

She also pledged to create conditions for Vietnamese businesses to participate more deeply and substantively in Japanese companies' supply chains.

A new chapter in Vietnam-Japan relations

The joint vision statement between Vietnam and Japan establishes a partnership guided by the principles of partnership, co-creation and mutual benefit, with a focus on high-quality growth, strategic autonomy and resilience. 

Under the framework, the two countries' leaders pledged to strengthen economic ties through mutual support, complementarity and shared benefits across four key pillars: science, technology and innovation; education and human resource development; production and supply chain linkages; and finance, investment and development assistance.

Vietnam-Japan relations have evolved through several stages over more than half a century since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973, particularly since Vietnam launched its Doi Moi economic reforms in 1986.

From an initial relationship in which Japan provided official development assistance to Vietnam, bilateral ties have developed into economic, trade and investment cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit.

The two countries’ leaders have charted a new course for cooperation under the vision of a partnership based on co-creation and mutual benefit, focusing on joint research, production and supply sourcing to deepen their integration into regional and global supply chains.

The elevation of bilateral ties is expected to create new opportunities for more substantive and effective cooperation in areas of shared priority. This will be a major focus of Vietnam-Japan relations in the years ahead.

Looking beyond bilateral cooperation

President To Lam's visit to Japan should be viewed in the broader context of Vietnam's increasingly active diplomatic engagement since the 14th National Party Congress. 

Vietnamese leaders have stepped up high-level exchanges with key partners, while the country has also welcomed a succession of foreign heads of state and government leaders.

President To Lam has personally visited major partners including China, Laos, Cambodia, Russia, the United States, ASEAN member states, European countries, Australia and New Zealand.

These diplomatic efforts are aimed at opening new avenues for foreign affairs and international integration, which the 14th National Party Congress identified for the first time as a key and regular task for the entire political system, in support of Vietnam's two centenary development goals.

Against this backdrop, the Japan visit delivered a number of concrete outcomes. 

The two countries signed 11 cooperation documents covering energy, education, science and technology, maritime affairs and environmental protection, among other areas. 

Businesses from both sides also reached around 60 cooperation agreements, further expanding opportunities for economic cooperation.