Speaking at the 2026 Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Hue City on September 6, Prime Minister Hung noted that local cooperation is an important pillar of the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership and should become a more direct channel connecting local development needs with Japanese resources, technology and experience.

He said that in the new development phase, Vietnam and Japan should focus on areas where their strengths complement each other, generate new value and can quickly be translated into specific programmes and projects.

In a congratulatory message to the forum, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae congratulated organisers on the second Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum held in Hue and expressed her appreciation for the efforts of delegates, local authorities, friendship organisations and business communities in both countries.

Recalling her visit to Vietnam in May 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi said she had seen clear progress in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of areas, from people-to-people exchanges, the economy, economic security and culture to security and defence.

She stressed that the vitality of local communities is the vitality of the nation, expressing the hope that the dynamism and youthful energy of Vietnamese localities, combined with the experience and expertise accumulated by Japanese localities in regional development, industrial promotion, tourism and human resource training, would help strengthen the autonomy and resilience of both countries.

She called on the two sides to move forward together to build a future of shared strength and shared prosperity.

Major orientations for Vietnam – Japan cooperation

The Prime Minister outlined five directions for cooperation, highlighting science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as foundations for high-quality growth and strategic autonomy.

Vietnam and Japan can promote cooperation models in digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, smart cities, sustainable agriculture, startup incubators and research and development centres.

Japan is expected to share experience and support Vietnamese localities and businesses in building innovation ecosystems, advancing digital transformation in local government and strengthening governance capacity in emerging fields.

The Prime Minister stressed, however, that cooperation should concentrate on projects with clear potential for practical implementation.

Localities in both countries should therefore properly assess their strengths, identify priority areas and fields where they can complement each other, and propose specific, feasible initiatives and projects that can be launched quickly.

The approach he emphasised is “choosing the right priorities, moving quickly, following through and measuring results.”

Businesses and people at the centre

The Prime Minister also underlined the need to place localities, businesses and people at the centre of cooperation.

The forum should provide opportunities for the two governments and local authorities to listen directly to businesses and people, helping create a more favourable environment for connectivity and investment. The ultimate goal is for people to benefit through more jobs, higher incomes and better skills.

Another important area is cooperation in culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. The two countries are encouraged to strengthen cultural links, develop joint tourism products, expand direct air routes between localities, promote youth exchanges and student exchanges, and share experience in preserving and promoting heritage values alongside the development of the cultural industries.

In green transition and climate change response, the Prime Minister called for concrete projects involving green infrastructure, urban flood control, waste and wastewater treatment, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy and disaster prevention and response.

From cooperation to co-creation

Building on these five directions, the Prime Minister called on localities and businesses in both countries to change their mindset and approach to cooperation.

“Shifting from cooperation to co-creation and from technology transfer to joint development” was the approach he highlighted at the forum.

Under this approach, Japanese businesses are expected to view Vietnam not only as a consumer market or production base, but also as a centre for manufacturing, innovation and sustainable supply-chain connectivity.

Prime Minister Hung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government, ministries, sectors and localities would continue working alongside Japanese localities and investors to address obstacles, improve the investment and business environment, and create favourable conditions for cooperation projects to be implemented effectively and substantively.

The message comes as the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership continues to develop strongly, with nearly 120 local cooperation agreements signed and implemented across various fields.

At the forum, Vietnamese and Japanese delegates also shared experience in innovation, digital technology, artificial intelligence, green transition, semiconductors, green hydrogen technology, heritage preservation and the cultural industries. They discussed ways to connect governments, businesses, universities and research institutions to turn ideas into specific programmes and projects.