Vietnam Communist Party Meets Japanese LDP Official, Eyes Deeper Economic and Security Cooperation

On July 22, at the Party Central Committee headquarters, Mr. Nguyen Duy Ngoc, member of the Politburo and head of the Organization Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, presided over a reception for Mr. Koichi Hagiuda, acting Secretary-General of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and a delegation from the LDP. Mr. Hagiuda is currently visiting Vietnam for discussions with relevant authorities. During the meeting, the deepening of the comprehensive and substantive Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership was emphasized. The Vietnamese side reiterated that it consistently considers Japan as one of its most important and long-term partners. Particular emphasis was placed on the desire to further strengthen bilateral relations in areas such as digital transformation, green transition, and energy security. Vietnam proposed three priority areas for cooperation between ASEAN and Japan. This also includes promoting joint research in the semiconductor field. These proposals are seen as part of Vietnam's strategy to enhance Japan's presence in the region and accelerate economic growth. Under Vietnam's one-party system, economic growth serves as a source of legitimacy, and external relations are a crucial means to achieve it. Especially in the context of its complex relationship with China, strengthening economic and security cooperation with Japan is a key pillar of Vietnam's foreign policy strategy.