The main Japanese media widely covered Tuesday, April 28, the official visit of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to Vietnam, scheduled from April 1is May, following its official announcement by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
>> Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae expected in Vietnam
>> Visit of the Japanese Prime Minister: Vietnam’s strategic role reaffirmed
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| Screenshot of the article titled “Prime Minister Takaichi to speak on foreign policy in Vietnam” on the website of “The Japan Times”. |
| Photo : VNA/CVN |
A common point emerges from these analyses: the growing importance of cooperation in matters of economic security between Japan and Vietnam in a regional and international context marked by strong uncertainties. Japanese media also consider this partnership as an essential link in the implementation of the strategy for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
Major media outlets such as Kyodo, NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei et The Japan Times believe that this visit is not limited to a routine diplomatic trip, but has significant strategic significance. It is expected to help restructure supply chains and strengthen Japan’s energy security, as tensions in the Middle East, export controls and global technological competition increase risks to an economy heavily dependent on imports.
Kyodo news agency quoted Deputy Cabinet Secretary-General Kihara Minoru as saying that Japan wants to reaffirm the strengthening of “global strategic partnership” with Vietnam, particularly in areas linked to economic security such as energy and critical minerals. For their part, NHK and Asahi Shimbun stressed that Vietnam, alongside Australia, constitutes a key partner in Japan’s regional policy, particularly in consolidating ties with like-minded countries.
According to Japanese media, Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia and enjoys a strategic geopolitical position. This allows Tokyo to diversify its sources of supply of essential resources, notably energy and critical minerals, to reduce its dependence on certain markets and to strengthen the resilience of its economy in the long term.
Furthermore, the Japanese press pays particular attention to the foreign policy speech that Prime Minister Takaichi is expected to deliver in Vietnam. This speech is seen as an important step in the adjustment and “renewal” of the FOIP strategy after more than a decade of implementation since the era of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with an increased emphasis on concrete elements such as security economic, strategic autonomy and resilience in the face of external shocks.
According to Japanese government sources, this speech is expected to highlight strengthening supply chains for essential goods as well as expanding cooperation on energy security. Analyzes believe that this development reflects a more flexible approach from Tokyo in an international environment where the economic, technological and security dimensions are increasingly interdependent.
The Japanese media also consider that the choice of Vietnam as the destination of this visit has a strong symbolic significance, illustrating the priority given by Japan to Southeast Asia in its long-term strategy, while confirming the growing role of Vietnam in regional architecture.
Citing the Vietnamese side, Asahi Shimbun reported that Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation among middle powers to reduce excessive dependence on major powers amid heightened geopolitical rivalries, thereby contributing to an environment of more balanced and stable cooperation.
Overall, Japanese media believe that Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s visit is a positive and strategic step, not only to deepen bilateral relations, but also to strengthen Japan’s role in structuring a rules-based regional order. In this framework, Vietnam is considered a central partner in building a flexible and sustainable economic and security cooperation network, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and in the world.
VNA/CVN
