NHK Reporter: Could you please highlight the primary goals of your official trip to Japan, along with your outlook on advancing bilateral ties in trade, investment, and talent cultivation?
General Secretary and President To Lam: I am confident that this visit to Japan will further translate the potential and achievements of our cooperation into concrete results, strengthen the longstanding bonds between our two countries, and ensure that the friendship nurtured across generations continues to bring benefits to people of both countries.
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General Secretary and President To Lam gives an interview to Japan’s NHK television network. (Photo: VNA) |
Viet Nam and Japan have a history of people-to-people exchanges dating back more than 400 years. Viet Nam has always regarded Japan as one of its foremost and enduring comprehensive strategic partners, and highly values Japan’s partnership in realizing Viet Nam’s two centenary goals. On that foundation, I hope to work with Japanese leaders to deepen mutual trust, align our long-term cooperation priorities, and create new momentum for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and around the world.
We are pleased to see that bilateral trade in the first 10 months of 2026 reached nearly 50 billion USD, with the goal of realizing 80 billion USD, and striving for 100 billion USD, by 2030. Japan currently has around 5,800 investment projects in Viet Nam, with a total registered capital of 80.4 billion USD.
I hope the growth of Vietnamese businesses will further strengthen these achievements, the long-term commitment of Japanese enterprises, and higher-value products jointly created by both sides.
To achieve this, we hope Japanese businesses will expand investment and product research and development in Viet Nam, while working with Vietnamese enterprises to participate more deeply in value chains. Cooperation in advanced industries, semiconductors, artificial intelligence and clean energy should go hand in hand with workforce training, stronger technological capabilities and improved management. For its part, Viet Nam attaches importance to building a transparent, stable, and predictable business environment and promptly addressing legitimate concerns raised by businesses. Trust must be nurtured through concrete actions and the success of each cooperative project.
Regarding human resources, I hope every Vietnamese person studying or working in Japan will have opportunities to acquire knowledge, improve professional skills, advance their careers, and have their legitimate rights and interests protected. We also hope that more Japanese experts, scientists and young people will come to Viet Nam to work, conduct research and start businesses. People who understand, trust and maintain close ties with both countries will carry our friendship forward.
I expect this visit to create new momentum for the Viet Nam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, serving the interests of the people of both countries and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Our new vision is one of partnership and co-creation, strategic autonomy, effective and mutually beneficial cooperation, all for the well-being of our people and workers.
NHK Reporter: Amidst growing uncertainty in the international environment, what diplomatic approach will Viet Nam adopt to tackle challenges and achieve rapid and sustainable development in the new era?
General Secretary and President To Lam: Viet Nam has chosen an approach that is steadfast in principle, proactive in action and sincere in cooperation. Our national history has taught us to understand the value of peace and the aspiration to rise. We recognize that we cannot wait for the world to become free of uncertainty before developing; we must proactively create the conditions for our country to move forward amid a challenging and volatile environment.
First and foremost, Viet Nam remains steadfast in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, resilience, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; pursuing the diversification and multilateralization of external relations; and safeguarding the highest national and ethnic interests on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.
Strategic autonomy means having the ability to decide our own development path and the capacity to implement those decisions. This ability is strengthened by robust domestic capabilities, public consensus, and extensive, stable international relations. The more volatile the world becomes, the more Viet Nam values consistency in principle, sincerity in cooperation and responsibility in honoring its commitments.
We will deepen relations with partners and seek common interests to strengthen ties, while persistently addressing differences through dialogue and peaceful means. Diplomacy must take the lead in identifying and preventing risks, maintaining channels of communication, and preparing response plans at an early stage. Viet Nam values the role of the United Nations, ASEAN solidarity and ASEAN centrality, and stands ready to contribute to peacekeeping and the resolution of shared challenges. We believe a country’s standing is built on the trust it earns and the contributions it makes to the international community.
In terms of development, we hope every opportunity created through diplomacy will help our country, people and businesses strengthen their own capabilities. Therefore, cooperation in technology, human resources, green finance, energy and infrastructure must be linked to institutional reform and stronger capacity to absorb and master knowledge and technology. We will support businesses in expanding markets and participating more deeply in value chains, while diversifying sources of supply and partners to reduce vulnerable dependencies. The effectiveness of integration should be reflected in higher productivity, stronger businesses and better jobs for our people.
With Japan, I am confident that the foundation of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and high political trust will enable the two countries to continue working together, co-creating, and sharing opportunities and responsibilities. Our goal is a country with strong capabilities for autonomy and resilience, reliable friends such as Japan, and increasingly practical contributions to the international community. All these efforts stem from our aspiration for the people of both countries to enjoy greater happiness, have opportunities to realize their potential, and ensure that future generations can look ahead with confidence.
NHK Reporter: Thank you very much!
Translated by Chung Anh