Overview
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in Hanoi for a document exchange and joint briefing that set new priority areas in energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and space.
- Both sides agreed to support crude purchases for the Nghi Son refinery using NEXI, Japan’s state trade insurance, to help keep fuel supplies steady as markets face Middle East risk.
- Tokyo and Hanoi said they will deepen security cooperation, with Takaichi framing closer ties as key to a Free and Open Indo‑Pacific.
- The leaders discussed the South China Sea and North Korea’s nuclear, missile, and abduction issues, and backed keeping the CPTPP trade pact at high standards with plans for strategic expansion under Vietnam’s chairmanship this year.
- Takaichi also met Communist Party chief and state president To Lam, who welcomed the visit and said stronger ties would serve both countries’ interests.