Vietnam and Japan Target $80 Billion Trade by 2030
Vietnam and Japan expanded their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership through agreements on AI, semiconductors, and energy infrastructure during President To Lam's official visit to Tokyo.
General Secretary and President To Lam visited Tokyo on November 9, 2026, where he and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi adopted the Vietnam–Japan Joint Vision Statement to elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The two nations set a bilateral trade target of $80 billion by 2030, noting that two-way trade had already surpassed $50 billion in 2025.
The leaders prioritized economic security and high-tech cooperation, specifically in semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Japan committed to training 250 semiconductor specialists through doctoral programs and supporting Vietnam's goal of training 100 PhD holders in AI by 2030. Additionally, the Japan Science and Technology Agency and the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology launched six joint semiconductor research projects under the NEXUS programme.
Financial and energy agreements included loans and grant aid exceeding 43.1 billion JPY (US$272.73 million) for the Việt Nam–Japan University and the Ô Môn III thermal power plant. The nations also signed a memorandum of understanding for the deployment of small modular reactors after 2040 and discussed accelerating LNG-fired power projects. Other agreements covered maritime policy, the environment, and the launch of the Vietnam–Japan Tourism Cooperation Year 2027–2028. Japan also expressed consideration for providing equipment for United Nations peacekeeping operations to support regional stability.
