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| Prime Minister Le Minh Hung welcomes delegates to the forum |
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Politburo member, attended and chaired the forum. The event was also attended by Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam ITO Naoki; Governor of Nara Prefecture Yamashita Makoto; representatives from Kyoto, Shizuoka, Gunma, Mie, Shiga and Yamanashi prefectures; and representatives of international organizations, ministries, sectors, and the business communities of the two countries.
Representing Hue City were Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung, member of the Party Central Committee Secretary of Hue City Party Committee, and Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hue City; Mr. Pham Duc Tien, Standing Deputy Secretary of Hue City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hue City People’s Council; Mr. Le Tri Thanh, Deputy Secretary of Hue City Party Committee, and Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee; and Mr. Nguyen Chi Tai, Deputy Secretary of Hue City Party Committee, and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hue City.
Widening Space for Cooperation
Delivering the opening remarks at the forum, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasized that the event was taking place at a particularly significant time, making it the largest local-level international cooperation event to be held in Vietnam following the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
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| Politburo member and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung delivers remarks at the forum |
The forum also served as a practical initiative to translate the outcomes of the meeting between Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae held in May 2026 into concrete action. At the meeting, the two sides pledged to promote closer human resource connections and people-to-people exchanges through cooperation in local-level partnerships, labor, healthcare, culture, and tourism.
Highlighting the major achievements in Vietnam-Japan economic relations, Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed that Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners, ranking first in ODA and labor cooperation, third in investment, and fourth in trade and tourism. In 2025, bilateral trade exceeded USD 50 billion for the first time, while Japanese investment rose by nearly USD 4 billion, with around 300 new projects.
The two countries have set the goals of increasing Japanese investment in Vietnam to USD 5 billion/year and raising bilateral trade up to USD 60 billion by 2030.
“Over the years, local-level cooperation has become an important and practical pillar of bilateral ties, with nearly 120 agreements being implemented. Against the backdrop of profound shifts driven by digital transformation and artificial intelligence, as well as the pressing need for green development, the theme ‘Building a Digital, Green and Sustainable Future: From Strategic Commitments to Concrete Action’ will provide an important opportunity for localities in the two countries to turn their potential into concrete projects,” Minister Le Hoai Trung emphasized.
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| Prime Minister Le Minh Hung poses for a commemorative photo with delegates at the forum |
Hue - A Strategic Destination for Cooperation with Japanese Partners
On behalf of the local Party Committee, authorities, and people of the host city, Secretary Nguyen Dinh Trung expressed his honor at having Hue Ancient Capital selected as the venue for the forum.
According to Secretary Nguyen Dinh Trung, the elevation of Vietnam-Japan relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World has opened up new space for development. In this context, local-level cooperation serves as a vital bridge, helping translate strategic orientations into concrete outcomes.
Hue is not only a cultural and heritage center, with eight UNESCO-recognized heritage titles, but also a regional center for specialized healthcare, education and training, and science and technology in central Vietnam. As Hue pursues green, ecological, and smart development, Japan has remained a trusted partner, with cooperation projects signed with Kyoto Prefecture, Nara Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, Shizuoka City, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The presence and successful operations of Japanese corporations and businesses in Hue, including AEON MALL, Mitani Sangyo, Brycen, and Hue Foods… are testaments to the strong potential for cooperation in various areas such as green industry, logistics, and services.
“Hue City looks forward to further strengthening and expanding cooperation with Japanese partners in key areas, including innovation, digital transformation and smart urban development; heritage preservation linked to sustainable tourism; and the development of economic and industrial zones. We hope that through the Hue-Japan Connectivity Conference and field visits held as part of the forum, the parties will gain a clearer understanding of their respective strengths and swiftly move to develop practical investment projects,” emphasized Secretary Nguyen Dinh Trung.
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| Secretary of the Hue City Party Committee Nguyen Dinh Trung speaks at the forum |
Decisively Shifting from Conventional Cooperation to Co-development
Speaking at the Forum, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stressed the importance of further deepening the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a substantive, practical, and effective manner. At the same time, he called on local authorities and businesses in both countries to decisively shift from ‘conventional cooperation’ to ‘co-development’.
Commending the theme ‘Building a Digital, Green, and Sustainable Future: From Strategic Commitments to Concrete Action’, the Prime Minister stated that it clearly reflects a spirit of trust, win-win cooperation, and joint efforts to shape a better future.
According to the Prime Minister, Vietnam-Japan relations are built on a foundation of high political trust, cultural affinity, strong people-to-people ties, and increasingly mutual interests. Since the two countries elevated their relation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, bilateral cooperation has continued to broaden and deepen, encompassing economic linkages, local-level cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Prime Minister expressed his sincere appreciation for the valuable contributions made by the Japanese Government, local authorities, and the business community to Vietnam’s socio-economic development in recent years.
Reviewing the achievements of Vietnam after 40 years of Renovation, the Prime Minister stated that Vietnam has risen to become the world’s 32nd-largest economy and is listed among the 15 countries with the largest trade volumes globally. The economy has recorded strong growth, macroeconomic stability has been maintained, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows have grown robustly.
Entering a new era, Vietnam is determined to pursue double-digit economic growth during the 2026-2030 period, with science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation serving as the foundations for development. In line with Politburo Resolution No. 10-NQ/TW, Vietnam considers the FDI sector an integral and important part of the economy and seeks to attract high-quality investment, coupled with the transfer of advanced technologies and stronger linkages with domestic businesses.
Commending the selection of Hue as the host for the forum, the Prime Minister noted that Hue possesses a rich cultural heritage while making strong strides in the development of technology, services, and modern urban infrastructure.
The decision to host the event in Hue carries profound significance, symbolizing the harmonious convergence of tradition and modernity, heritage preservation and development, as well as culture and technology, with people at the heart of the efforts to shape new engines of growth.
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| Delegates attend the forum |
To make the most of the complementary potential and strengths of the two sides, the Prime Minister outlined four key directions for cooperation between localities and businesses of the two countries.
First of all, the two sides should elevate their cooperation toward a partnership for high-quality growth and greater strategic autonomy. The Prime Minister called for closer collaboration in cutting-edge areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, smart urban development, sustainable agriculture, and research and development (R&D). Japan was encouraged to support Vietnamese localities in developing innovation ecosystems, accelerating digital transformation, and strengthening their capacity to manage emerging technology sectors.
Secondly, upholding the spirit of ‘assess right, act swiftly, go all the way, and measure success by results’, the two sides should focus on addressing the shortage of high-quality human resources in Vietnam, while also contributing to efforts to tackle the challenges posed by population aging and a shrinking workforce in Japan. The Prime Minister called for the selection of highly feasible projects that align with the respective strengths of both sides, so that they can be launched promptly and deliver tangible results.
Thirdly, placing localities, businesses, and residents at the center. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Forum must serve as a platform for genuine dialogue, enabling the two governments to promptly address obstacles and create an open and favorable investment environment. Ultimately, cooperation should deliver tangible benefits to people, including better jobs, higher incomes, and greater opportunities to enhance their skills.
Fourthly, reinforcing the cultural foundation, deepening people-to-people exchanges, and strengthening cooperation in responding to climate change. The Prime Minister called for closer tourism connectivity, expanded direct air services, and greater intergenerational exchanges, particularly among young people. He also encouraged closer cooperation in developing green infrastructure, preventing urban flooding, managing waste, expanding renewable energy, and enhancing disaster prevention and response.
The Prime Minister called on local authorities and business communities in both countries to continue innovating mindsets and making a decisive shift from ‘Conventional Cooperation’ to ‘Co-development’. Meanwhile, Japanese businesses were encouraged to continue viewing Vietnam as a hub for manufacturing, innovation, and sustainable supply-chain connectivity.