(VOVWORLD) - Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long on Tuesday chaired the Vietnam–Kansai Economic Forum as part of “Vietnam National Day” at EXPO Osaka 2025.
 Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu at the Vietnam - Kansai Economic Forum (Photo: VOV) |
Under the theme “Cooperation for the Future, Connecting Global Value Chains”, the forum brought together representatives from around 150 Japanese companies and 50 Vietnamese enterprises.
In his address, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said: “This is not only an opportunity to showcase Vietnam’s image as a dynamic, innovative, and deeply integrated country, but also a chance to promote political, cultural, and economic ties with Japan and the international friends. I'm confident that the Forum will create new momentum to promote exchanges and cooperation between Kansai and Vietnam, making it extensive, effective, and enduring.”
 : Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and the Japanese Princess enjoy Vietnamese coffee at the "Vietnam National Day" event at EXPO 2025 (Photo: VOV) |
Takashima Tomohiro, Executive Vice President of JETRO, highlighted Vietnam’s advantages as a consumer market of more than 100 million people with per capita GDP of nearly 5,000 USD.
He said: “Currently, 56% of Japanese firms in Vietnam plan to increase investment within the next year. This is the highest rate among ASEAN countries. Japanese businesses always praise the investment environment in Vietnam. While Japanese businesses once focused mainly on manufacturing, they are now also expanding into real estate and services. JETRO annually receives over 4,000 inquiries from companies interested in investing in Vietnam, ranking third globally and first in ASEAN. Despite global fluctuations, the Vietnam-Japan ties will always be sustained and grow steadily,”
Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long called on Japan to continue supporting Vietnam in accessing investment relocation flows and sustainable green finance. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is committed to creating the most favorable conditions for foreign investors, including Japanese businesses, to operate stably and successfully in Vietnam.