During a meeting with JICA President Tanaka Akihiko in Ha Noi on June 11, the Prime Minister praised JICA’s longstanding contribution to Viet Nam’s socio-economic development through official development assistance (ODA), highlighting its role in infrastructure development, economic restructuring and institutional reform.
He noted that JICA had recently worked closely with Vietnamese authorities to conclude three loan agreements worth nearly 90 billion yen (560.6 million USD) in 2025 to support essential infrastructure projects and strengthen climate resilience.
Both sides welcomed the strong growth of the Viet Nam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with Japan remaining one of Viet Nam’s leading economic partners and its largest provider of ODA. Bilateral cooperation has continued to expand into emerging areas such as science and technology, digital and green transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and economic security.
In 2025, ODA cooperation increased by more than 600 million USD, two-way trade exceeded 50 billion USD for the first time, and Japanese investment rose by nearly 4 billion USD, with almost 300 new investment projects launched.
The Prime Minister said Viet Nam had approved a roadmap to implement cooperation agreements reached during the recent official visit to Viet Nam by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, with ministries assigned specific responsibilities and timelines.
Welcoming JICA’s proposed new framework for ODA cooperation, PM Le Minh Hung urged the agency to work with Vietnamese authorities to identify feasible projects and accelerate procedures for new grant aid programmes.
He also called for greater support in key strategic sectors, including AI, semiconductors, quantum technology, digital transformation, green growth, space technology, energy, disaster prevention and supply-chain resilience. In addition, he proposed expanding preferential next-generation ODA financing and promoting budget support loans for AI and digital transformation initiatives.
The Prime Minister also expressed hope that JICA would cooperate with Vietnamese ministries and localities in developing a cooperation portfolio for the 2026–2030 period, while helping to advance major projects, including the O Mon III Thermal Power Plant, the Viet Nam–Japan University and climate-resilient infrastructure in the Mekong Delta.
For his part, Tanaka congratulated Le Minh Hung on his appointment as Prime Minister and praised Viet Nam’s development achievements and strategic vision. He said JICA’s future cooperation framework would focus on four pillars: high-quality human resources development, industrial and supply-chain development, institutional improvement, and infrastructure development.
He highlighted science and technology as a priority area of cooperation, including the launch of the LOTUSat-1 satellite, leadership training for the digital era, semiconductor workforce development, and Japanese budget support for AI and digital transformation.
Both sides also discussed measures to accelerate several flagship projects, including the Viet Nam–Japan University and Ha Noi’s Metro Line 2 connecting Nam Thang Long and Tran Hung Dao.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung expressed confidence that JICA would continue to deepen practical cooperation and contribute to Viet Nam’s efforts to achieve its long-term development objectives.
