At the invitation of the Japanese State, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam To Lam, accompanied by his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will pay an official visit to Japan from November 8 to 11, 2026.
On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu spoke to a Nhan Dan Newspaper reporter about the purpose and significance of the visit, as well as the prospects for bilateral cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan.
Turning complementary strengths into shared development capabilities
Discussing the significance of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's official visit to Japan, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu said this would be To Lam's first visit to Japan in his capacity as Party General Secretary and State President, taking place at a time when both countries are facing new development imperatives.
Viet Nam is accelerating industrialisation and modernisation as it works towards its two centenary development goals for 2030 and 2045. Japan is also seeking new growth drivers, linking economic development with science and technology, strengthening national capabilities and restoring its leading position in key economic and technological sectors.
“A key point of convergence is that both countries regard science and technology, innovation and the quality of human resources as decisive factors for future development. Japan possesses strengths in technology, capital, industrial foundations and management expertise, while Viet Nam offers a skilled workforce, a dynamic market and strong development aspirations. This is an opportune moment for the two countries to transform their complementary strengths into shared development capabilities,” Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu emphasised.
Drawing on his experience working in Japan, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu noted that Viet Nam–Japan relations rest on an invaluable foundation of trust nurtured by successive generations of leaders, long-standing engagement by businesses and close bonds between the peoples of the two countries.
Japan has accompanied Viet Nam in infrastructure construction, industrial development and human resource training. Today, the achievements of this cooperation are making increasingly positive contributions to the socio-economic development of both countries.
Therefore, bilateral cooperation has become increasingly reciprocal, with the two countries more closely connected through shared interests and their future development prospects.
The overarching message of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s upcoming official visit to Japan will be to jointly shape and establish a new framework for bilateral cooperation at a higher level, open up new avenues for development in strategic sectors with a long-term vision, and create shared value whose benefits can be enjoyed by the people of both countries.
Pham Quang Hieu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan
Translating high-level direction into tangible results
Alongside his assessment of the significance of the visit, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu outlined five key areas of cooperation expected to be advanced during the official visit to Japan by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and a high-level Vietnamese delegation.
First, according to Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, the visit reaffirms Viet Nam's commitment to its relations with Japan and its long-term vision for bilateral cooperation. It represents an important step in implementing the foreign policy adopted at the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam. Viet Nam continues to regard Japan as one of its most important long-term Comprehensive Strategic Partners and hopes that the two countries will work together as partners pursuing shared development and mutual benefits.
Second, the visit aims to strengthen political trust, particularly personal trust between the two countries' senior leaders. Direct exchanges will enable both sides to gain a better understanding of each other's priorities, reach consensus on major strategic directions and address outstanding issues. The Ambassador described this as an essential foundation for long-term cooperation.
Third, the visit seeks to promote cooperation in strengthening each country's strategic autonomy and self-reliance. The focus will be on deepening economic connectivity by linking trade and investment with science and technology, innovation and the development of highly skilled human resources.
“We hope to advance concrete programmes in joint research, technology transfer and mastery, and the training of specialists and engineers. We also aim to strengthen connections between businesses, universities and research institutes. Semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, energy and green transition are particularly promising areas. Our goal is for the two countries to conduct research, manufacture products and develop together within value chains,” Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu said.
Fourth, the visit aims to deepen people-to-people and local-level ties. Cooperation between localities, tourism, cultural exchanges, education and youth engagement will continue to be promoted. The community of nearly 700,000 Vietnamese people living in Japan serves as a particularly important bridge between the two countries. As mutual understanding between their peoples deepens, businesses cooperate more effectively and localities identify shared interests, bilateral relations will gain an increasingly sustainable foundation.
One of the highlights of the visit will be the promotion of cultural diplomacy through a wide range of cultural exchange activities, particularly the first-ever Viet Nam–Japan Sculpture Exhibition, themed “Dialogue”.
Fifth, the visit seeks to strengthen coordination and promote comprehensive cooperation within multilateral frameworks. Both countries attach importance to upholding international law, including the United Nations Charter, resolving disputes through peaceful means and making responsible contributions to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and around the world.
Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu said that a key task for the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan is to translate high-level strategic directions into tangible outcomes. Accordingly, immediately after the visit, the Embassy will work with relevant partners to identify specific tasks, responsible agencies and implementation timelines for the agreements reached.
“With our in-depth knowledge of Japan and our role in directly connecting partners, we will continue to refine the Viet Nam–Japan ‘cooperation map’. Our goal is to identify the right partners, match their needs effectively and advance concrete projects. The key is to ensure that the success of the visit is reflected in tangible benefits for the people and businesses of both countries,” the Ambassador said.
Expanding opportunities and career prospects for Vietnamese people in Japan
Discussing the Vietnamese community in Japan, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu said that approximately 700,000 Vietnamese nationals currently reside in the country, making them the second-largest foreign community in Japan.
Of these, around 30% are intellectuals, experts and international students, while more than 50% are workers, engineers and trainees. Notably, a community of approximately 1,000 highly qualified Vietnamese intellectuals and scientists has emerged, many of whom hold important positions in Japan.
Among them are nearly 300 professors and associate professors born in the 1970s and 1980s who are working at leading Japanese universities, research institutes and technology companies in strategic technology sectors.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese business community in Japan is also developing dynamically across various sectors. In information technology alone, approximately 100 Vietnamese enterprises are currently operating in Japan, generating annual revenue of around 1 billion USD. These businesses play an important role in connecting investment, technology and markets between the two countries.
The Vietnamese community in Japan serves as a vital bridge between the peoples of the two countries, making positive contributions to Japan's socio-economic development and Viet Nam's progress. It is also a valuable resource for strengthening Viet Nam–Japan relations.
According to Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, the Politburo's Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW, dated August 2, 2026, on overseas Vietnamese affairs further affirms the role of overseas Vietnamese as one of the country's important strategic resources.
Regarding the Vietnamese community in Japan, the Ambassador stressed the importance of creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to integrate successfully into their host society while becoming increasingly involved in the development of their homeland. Their achievements also contribute to strengthening Viet Nam and deepening ties between the two peoples.
Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu expressed his hope and confidence that the upcoming official visit to Japan by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam would provide fresh impetus for cooperation in education, training, labour, science and technology, and human resource development.
This, in turn, would expand opportunities for Vietnamese people in Japan to pursue education, employment and career advancement.
In particular, Vietnamese intellectuals, experts, engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs and students could make direct contributions to the key pillar of bilateral cooperation in science and technology, innovation and high-quality human resource development.
Furthermore, every Vietnamese person living in Japan represents the image of Viet Nam and its people. Respecting Japanese laws and culture, demonstrating responsibility at work and actively participating in community activities will help strengthen mutual trust, understanding and goodwill between the peoples of the two countries.
“In implementing the Politburo's Resolution No. 23, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan will continue to fulfil its responsibility to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, support their successful integration into Japanese society and help the community make the most of its strengths.
We hope that Vietnamese associations and networks of intellectuals, entrepreneurs and workers will continue to foster solidarity. At the same time, greater attention should be paid to preserving the Vietnamese language, cultural identity and connections with the homeland among younger generations of Vietnamese people in Japan,” Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu noted.
