Japan and Vietnam agreed Saturday to boost bilateral trade to $60 billion by 2030, with Tokyo pledging $5 billion in annual investment in Vietnam. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her Vietnamese counterpart Le Minh Hung signed six cooperation documents in Hanoi, focusing on high‑technology projects, critical mineral supply chains, and energy security. Japan also plans to support Vietnam’s Nghi Son Refinery, part of a wider $10 billion regional initiative to stabilize fuel supplies amid disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The two sides discussed potential nuclear energy cooperation by 2040 and Japan’s inclusion of Vietnam in its Official Security Assistance framework. The agreement underscores Tokyo’s effort to diversify supply chains and strengthen ties in Southeast Asia amid strained relations with China and instability in the Middle East.
Source: Newstimehub
