Tô Lâm Meets Three Former Japanese Prime Ministers in Tokyo
On November 10, Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm met former Japanese prime ministers Ishiba Shigeru, Kishida Fumio and Aso Taro in Tokyo. They discussed the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and cooperation in technology, the economy and among localities. Tô Lâm outlined four priorities, and the former prime ministers pledged continued support for bilateral ties.
On the morning of November 10, Tô Lâm, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, met separately in Tokyo with former Japanese prime ministers Ishiba Shigeru, Kishida Fumio and Aso Taro during his official visit to Japan. They exchanged views on the development of the Vietnam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Tô Lâm meets former Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru.（VietVance）
During the meetings, the two sides said relations had advanced in several areas in the three years since the countries upgraded their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Science and technology cooperation is seen as a new pillar of the relationship, while cooperation on digital transformation, green transition, innovation and semiconductors is progressing. Cultural exchanges, cooperation among localities and people-to-people ties are also deepening. The three former Japanese prime ministers welcomed Tô Lâm’s visit and wished Vietnam success in hosting activities related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in 2027.
Tô Lâm meets former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.（VietVance）
Tô Lâm thanked the three former prime ministers for their longstanding efforts to promote Vietnam–Japan friendship and cooperation and expressed hope that they would continue to support implementation of the Joint Vision Statement recently adopted by the two countries’ leaders. He proposed four priorities: strengthening political exchanges through party, state and parliamentary channels; deepening economic cooperation and ensuring economic security; expanding cooperation in innovation, space technology and high-tech agriculture; and improving the effectiveness of cooperation among localities. The three former prime ministers said they would continue to support the development of bilateral ties.
Aso Taro praised the talks between Tô Lâm and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae on November 9, 2026, and welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam and Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party. Kishida Fumio said he would continue to promote high-level exchanges and contacts between the two countries’ parliamentary friendship groups. Ishiba Shigeru recalled visiting Vietnam in April 2025 as Japan’s prime minister and said he would continue to contribute to bilateral cooperation.
Tô Lâm meets former Japanese Prime Minister Aso Taro.（VietVance）
Source: VietVance
