Tô Lâm Proposes Cooperation with Japan on Long-Term Funding for Vietnam’s Infrastructure
Vietnam’s General Secretary and President Tô Lâm met Japanese financial institutions in Tokyo on November 11 and proposed long-term financing plans for railways, ports, energy and digital infrastructure, combining public investment, concessional loans and private capital according to each project’s revenue potential.
On November 11, 2026, Vietnam’s General Secretary and President Tô Lâm met representatives of Japanese financial institutions at the Tokyo Stock Exchange during an official visit to Japan. He proposed that the two sides develop long-term financing plans for railways, ports, energy and digital infrastructure, with financial institutions participating in project financing and investment.
Tô Lâm speaks during the November 11 meeting with representatives of Japanese financial institutions.（VietVance）
Tô Lâm said Vietnam would focus on developing high-speed rail, urban rail, airports, ports, logistics, energy and digital infrastructure from 2026 to 2030 and in subsequent years. These projects require large amounts of long-term funding that the state budget or any single financing channel cannot provide alone. He encouraged Japanese banks, securities companies, investment funds and insurers to consider providing advice, arranging financing or investing in suitable international financing instruments issued by the Vietnamese government and businesses.
On financing methods, Tô Lâm said public works that bring substantial economic and social benefits but offer limited prospects for directly recovering investment costs could use public investment, official development assistance and concessional loans. Projects capable of generating stable revenue could attract investment from businesses and infrastructure funds and be carried out as public-private partnerships. Projects with substantial development benefits that struggle to attract commercial capital could combine public and private funding with appropriate risk-sharing mechanisms.
Representatives of Japanese financial institutions attend the meeting with Tô Lâm.（VietVance）
Representatives of Japanese financial institutions and businesses discussed medium- and long-term financing, attracting international institutional investors and preparing projects. The two sides also discussed the possibility of issuing bonds on international markets, depending on market conditions, financing costs and risks, as well as the role of Vietnam’s International Financial Center in connecting Japanese investors with investment opportunities. Tô Lâm asked Vietnam’s government, Ministry of Finance and other agencies to work with the Japanese side to select viable projects and define funding needs, investment methods, risk management arrangements and each party’s responsibilities.
Source: VietVance
