Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio in Tokyo on December 16, 2023. (Photo: Duong Giang/VNA)

At the talks, the 6th between the two PMs in the past two years and the 2nd this year, the leaders agreed to closely coordinate to facilitate the implementation of the Joint Statement on upgrading Vietnam-Japan relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world," issued during President Vo Van Thuong’s visit to Japan last month.   

Both PMs praised encouraging progress in key economic cooperation projects. Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam this year has exceeded 100 billion yen (over 700 million USD) for the first time since 2017. 

PM Chinh asked Japan to continue providing new-generation ODA for Vietnam’s strategic projects on transport structure, such as the high-speed North-South railway, urban railways, and new industrial clusters. He also sought support for Vietnamese businesses to participate in Japan’s global supply chain in the fields of automobile manufacturing, electronics, medical equipment. 

PM Kishida Fumio affirmed that Japan will continue to help Vietnam boost industrialization and modernization, build an independent and self-reliant economy, and deepen international integration.

He agreed to expand cooperation with Vietnam in green transition, climate change response, especially in energy transition and emission reduction through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) established by Japan.

The leaders also witnessed the signing of several ODA cooperation documents.