According to the Prime Minister, in addition to the important results achieved in recent times, there is still great room for cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.
To contribute to further exploiting this space, while improving the quality and effectiveness of cooperation between the business communities and localities of the two countries, the Prime Minister proposed and suggested 6 major orientations for the two sides to enhance cooperation, exchange and discussion at the Forum.
First, proactively, creatively, promoting the potential and complementary factors between localities of the two countries to promote cooperation on the principle of "both benefits", "one needs one, the other has", for common prosperity. Vietnam has localities that need capital, technology, and supporting industries that have not been developed, etc., while Japan also has localities that are facing labor shortage, aging population, and lack of growth momentum...
Therefore, the Prime Minister suggested that localities discuss focusing on their potential, strengths, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages; each locality identify 1-2 priority and spearhead areas of its locality, striving to propose 2-3 specific cooperation initiatives/projects that can be implemented in the next 1-2 years.
Second, it is determined to "take businesses and people as the center, subject, goal, driving force and main resource of cooperation". At this Forum, in addition to localities, there are hundreds of businesses of the two countries trying to seek opportunities for connection and trade.
The Prime Minister suggested that localities of the two countries focus on listening to businesses' opinions to proactively have preferential policies, creating a favorable environment for businesses of the two countries to connect and invest, while ensuring that people must be the main beneficiaries of cooperation in the spirit of the three more: "more good work, higher income, better skills and working conditions".
Third, identify cultural exchanges and mutual understanding as the foundation of long-term cooperation. The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides discuss and propose specific initiatives to enhance cultural connectivity, tourism, people-to-people exchanges between the two countries in general and understanding between localities in particular (such as encouraging people to travel to each other, organizing festivals, having common tourism products, opening more flights, enhancing exchanges between young generations...).
Fourth, identify innovation and digital transformation as new growth drivers of local cooperation. The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides study and promote cooperation models on digital technology, AI, smart cities, startup kindergartens, research and development (R&D) centers, etc.; hoping that the Japanese side will increase experience sharing and support Vietnamese localities and enterprises in building an innovative ecosystem, promoting digital transformation in local governments, improving policy making capacity, governance in priority areas such as AI, mobile infrastructure, semiconductors, etc.
Fifth, further strengthen cooperation in green transformation, climate change response, resource management, natural disaster prevention and control; the two sides exchanged, shared experiences, and proposed specific cooperation projects on green infrastructure, urban flood prevention, waste - wastewater treatment, smart agriculture to adapt to climate change, renewable energy, etc.
Sixth, strengthen cooperation in training, supplement human resources for each other, in the context of Japan's labor shortage, while Vietnam is in the "golden population" period and adjust policies to develop the population, improve education, train human resources, and nurture talents.
The Prime Minister said that the Vietnamese Government welcomed and agreed with the speech immediately after being elected by Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, which was "Doing Business! Work! Work and Work!". The Vietnamese Government is committed to continuing to work harder, always accompanying Japanese localities and investors in the spirit of "3 together", including: Sharing vision and understanding between businesses, the State and the people; sharing vision and action to cooperate, supporting each other for rapid and sustainable development; working together, winning together, enjoying together, developing together; sharing joy, happiness and pride.
In that spirit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on Japanese localities and businesses to continue to trust and stick with Vietnam in the development process; constantly contribute to the prosperity of the two countries as well as the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with the motto "respecting intelligence, valuing time, respecting decisiveness".
The Prime Minister believes that the first Vietnam - Japan Local Cooperation Forum will be an important milestone, "new impetus", opening a promising and creative cooperation journey between Vietnam and Japan, contributing to further developing bilateral relations under the motto " sincere - affectionate - trust - truly - effective - mutually beneficial", in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of both countries, the two peoples and the leaders.
The Vietnam - Japan Local Cooperation Forum, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with Quang Ninh province, was attended by the Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan; leaders of central ministries and branches, Heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad; leaders of 31 provinces and cities nationwide.
On the Japanese side, the Japanese Prime Minister sent a Congratulatory message; the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam attended with leaders and representatives of 16 Japanese localities, organizations, associations, businesses from Japan as well as Japanese partners operating in Vietnam.
