Speaker of Japanese House of Representatives begins visit

Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic ties in 1973. The two sides elevated bilateral relations into an “extensive strategic partnership” in 2014.

Japan is the biggest provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam and ranks second in foreign investment with a total registered capital of 42 billion USD, accounting for 15 percent of total foreign direct investment poured into the country.

With nearly 700,000 Japanese visitors to Vietnam in 2016, Japan became Vietnam’s third largest tourism partner. Both signed a joint statement on tourism cooperation in April, 2005, helping lure more Japanese holiday-makers to Vietnam.

The two nations have also promoted people-to-people exchanges through the organisation of exhibitions, film festivals and other cultural events.

Japan is also a leading provider of non-refundable aid for Vietnam’s education. By 2016, about 60,000 Vietnamese students have pursued their study in Japan.

Both sides have collaborated in other spheres such as agriculture, climate change response and labour.