AZEC is the Asian Zero Emission Community Initiative, which was proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before the Japanese Parliament on January 17, 2022 and at the World Economic Forum on January 18, 2022. AZEC was assigned by the Prime Minister to chair the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Accordingly, AZEC has a role in promoting public-private partnerships and private sector cooperation to promote the regional energy transition. ASEAN countries highly appreciate this initiative of Japan, in particular, AZEC also contributes to Vietnam's implementation of its commitments at COP26. Vietnam, as well as ASEAN, always attach importance to its relationship with Japan. Up to now, ASEAN-Japan cooperation has expanded in many fields, and in the future, it is expected to further promote potential cooperation areas such as green economy, digital economy, circular economy, green energy, etc.

The Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority (Ministry of Industry and Trade), together with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), established a working group to promote AZEC with a number of support goals such as: energy transition, green transition; renewable energy power generation such as developing rooftop solar power, offshore wind power, waste-to-energy, biomass power; power systems and electricity markets.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to focus on research and development to diversify clean energy sources and new technologies in the coming time. At the same time, they will promote technology transfer to ensure that clean energy sources are widely accessible and ensure clean energy transition in accordance with each country's conditions. In addition, they will strengthen cooperation in training high-quality human resources, smart governance and perfecting modern, suitable and effective market institutions for each country.

In the coming time, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Long hopes that Japan will increase support for the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the field of green energy conversion, contributing to helping Vietnam achieve the Net Zero target by 2050.