Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum Deepens Bilateral Ties

On September 6th, the second Vietnam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum was held in Hue City, central Vietnam. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung presided over a working session with a delegation of Japanese local representatives within the framework of the forum. Comrade Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Politburo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, also attended. The forum aims to expand the cooperation space between Vietnam and Japan. In particular, experience sharing on urban flood management and river basin management was a key discussion point. This reflects an effort to leverage Japan's advanced knowledge amidst Vietnam's rapid urbanization and concerns about climate change impacts. Furthermore, Japanese experts suggested that Vietnam should prioritize semiconductor manufacturing and packaging. This is considered part of Vietnam's strategy to expand its role in the supply chain and transition to high-value-added industries. Both countries also confirmed the strengthening of cooperation in intellectual property rights protection, a crucial element for promoting technology transfer and innovation. Vietnam highly values its long-standing friendly and cooperative relationship with Japan, and strengthening collaboration at the local level is expected to further solidify the overall bilateral ties. Especially as economic growth and social development progress, the aim is to bring tangible benefits to the people of both nations through cooperation in diverse fields.