At the forum themed "Creating a Digital, Green, and Sustainable Future: From Strategic Commitment to Substantive Action," Prime Minister Hung called on the two nations need to intensify cooperation grounded in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
He stressed the need to explore and promote joint cooperation models in areas such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, smart cities, sustainable agriculture, startup incubators, and R&D centers. This strategic direction is aimed at deepening the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and making it substantive and effective, according to the Prime Minister.
He urged localities in both countries to clearly identify priority and key sectors with complementary strengths, and to propose specific, feasible cooperation initiatives and projects for immediate implementation. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and mutual understanding as the foundation for long-term cooperation.
Prime Minister Hung called for a focus on developing tourism products, opening new air routes connecting localities, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, promoting heritage values and cultural industries, and boosting cooperation in green transformation, climate change response, and disaster prevention capabilities.
He also called on local governments and businesses from both sides to shift their models from mere "cooperation" to "co-facilitation," and from "technology transfer" to "joint development." Japanese enterprises should view Vietnam as a hub for manufacturing, innovation, and sustainable supply chain connectivity that serves both Japanese localities and the national economy, the Prime Minister said.
The Vietnamese Government, ministries, agencies, and localities will continue to stand alongside Japanese investors, vigorously improve the investment and business environment, and establish a streamlined institutional framework to facilitate effective and substantive cooperation in this new phase of development, he added.
In a message addressed to the forum, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said "the vitality of localities is the vitality of the nation." She expressed the hope that the dynamism and youthful energy of Vietnamese localities—combined with the experience and expertise Japanese localities have accumulated in regional development, industrial promotion, tourism, and human resource training—will help enhance the autonomy and resilience of both nations. She also called on both sides to move forward together to build a future of "shared strength and shared prosperity."
The forum featured thematic discussion sessions focused on areas of high cooperation potential between localities of Vietnam and Japan.
