Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This marks Takaichi's first trip to Vietnam since taking office in 10/2025.

Born in 1961, Takaichi is the first female prime minister in Japan's history. She holds a bachelor's degree in business from Kobe University. Her previous ministerial roles included portfolios for internal affairs, communications, economic security, science and technology policy, space, and intellectual property.

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech in Tokyo on 6/1. Photo: AFP

During a press conference in Hanoi on 28/4, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki stated that this visit underscores the importance Prime Minister Takaichi and the Japanese government place on the Japan-Vietnam relationship. It also highlights their appreciation for Vietnam's role on the international stage.

Ambassador Naoki noted that the visit aims to strengthen and build trust between the leaders of the two countries. Both sides are expected to discuss key areas of future cooperation, including economy, energy, and people-to-people exchanges.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki at a press conference in Hanoi on 28/4. Photo: Ngoc Anh

Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973 and elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023. Japan is Vietnam's largest official development assistance (ODA) provider and labor cooperation partner, its 3rd largest investor, and its 4th largest tourism and trade partner.

In 2025, Vietnam-Japan import-export turnover exceeded 51.43 billion USD. The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam reported that turnover from January to March this year increased by 12.7% compared to the same period last year, with expectations to reach 60 billion USD by 2027.

As of 31/1/2026, Japan has 5,722 valid investment projects in Vietnam, totaling 78.9 billion USD, ranking 3rd out of 153 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

In the semiconductor sector, Vietnam aims to train 500 doctoral researchers by 2030, and Japan has committed to accepting about one-half of them through international collaborative research programs.

Over 680,000 Vietnamese people reside in Japan, forming the second largest foreign community in the country.

Ngoc Anh