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On April 28, major Japanese newspapers simultaneously reported on Prime Minister Takaichi Sanaes visit to Vietnam, scheduled to start from May 1. Download Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae will officially visit Vietnam from May 1-3, 2026 - Photo: Japantimes The Japanese press focuses on highlighting a common point throughout, the increasing importance of economic security cooperation with Vietnam in the context of strong regional and world fluctuations, and considers this a key link in realizing the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy. Major media agencies such as Kyodo, NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei and The Japan Times simultaneously commented that this trip is not simply a routine diplomatic activity but has strategic significance in restructuring the supply chain and ensuring energy stability for Japan, especially in the context of tensions in the Middle East, export control measures and global technology competition are creating increasingly obvious risks for Japans import-dependent economy. Kyodo News Agency quoted Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara Minorus statement at the press conference as saying: With Vietnam, Japan wishes to reaffirm the strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, including economic security areas such as energy and important minerals. According to NHK and Asahi newspaper, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kihara emphasized: In the Southeast Asia region, Vietnam is a country with an outstanding growth rate, and Australia is a pillar in the connection with like-minded countries; strengthening relations with these two countries is extremely important. Japanese media said that Vietnam is considered one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, and has a favorable geopolitical location that helps Tokyo diversify the supply of strategic resources such as energy and important minerals, thereby minimizing dependence on certain markets and improving the economys resilience in the long term. In addition, the Japanese press also paid special attention to the foreign policy speech that Prime Minister Takaichi is expected to give in Vietnam, considering this an important milestone in refreshing and adjusting the FOIP strategy after a decade of implementation since the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the focus clearly shifting to practical factors such as economic security, strategic autonomy and resilience to external shocks. Many articles also believe that choosing Vietnam as the destination for this trip has symbolic meaning, demonstrating Japans priority for Southeast Asia in its long-term strategy, while also affirming Vietnams increasingly high position in the regional structure. Asahi newspaper quoted the viewpoint from the Vietnamese side, in which Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu emphasized the desire to strengthen cooperation between middle-range countries to avoid excessive dependence on great powers in the context of increasing geopolitical competition, thereby creating a more balanced and stable cooperation space. These assessments are placed in the context that Vietnam is pursuing high growth goals and upgrading its economic position in the long term, with the expectation of taking advantage of cooperation with Japan to promote industrial, technological and energy development. Ahead of the Japanese Prime Ministers visit, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said that Vietnam is a country that promotes peace and development on the basis of respect for peace; Therefore, Japan wishes to cooperate closely with Vietnam to contribute to building a region of peace, stability and mutual development. The Ambassador expects that Prime Minister Takaichis visit this time will be an opportunity to further promote people-to-people exchanges, with the goal that by 2030, the number of people traveling back and forth between the two countries will reach 2 million people. See moreJapanese Prime Minister will make an official visit to Vietnam See moreDeepening the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
