At the reception, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Ambassador Ito Naoki on being appointed by the Japanese Government as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam after the two countries upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2023; and expressed his thanks to the leaders and people of Japan for their attention, sharing and sending the Special Envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister, former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, to attend the funeral of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction with the positive progress of the bilateral relationship in recent times, in which exchanges and delegations at high and all levels have taken place regularly, economic cooperation and linkages have become increasingly close, Japan is one of Vietnam's leading important economic partners. Along with that, exchanges and human resource connections have become increasingly close, the Vietnamese community in Japan has increased rapidly and now reaches more than 560,000 people.

Appreciating the experience of cooperation with Vietnam during his time working at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Ambassador Ito Naoki to actively coordinate in implementing the recently upgraded Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework based on the motto of "sincerity, affection, trust, substance, and effectiveness", developing the Vietnam-Japan relationship with "six more points" during his term in Vietnam, including:

Firstly, to strengthen political trust and closeness through increasing high-level visits and contacts, promoting visits by leaders of the Japanese Government and Parliament to Vietnam; and promoting defense and security cooperation. On this occasion, the Prime Minister conveyed the invitation of General Secretary and President To Lam to the Emperor, Empress and members of the Japanese Royal Family to visit Vietnam.

Second, strengthen economic cooperation and economic linkages more strongly and effectively. The Prime Minister asked Ambassador Ito Naoki to urge Japan to support Vietnam in building an independent, self-reliant economy and comprehensive international integration, providing new-generation ODA with simpler loan procedures for infrastructure construction projects, and opening the market for Vietnamese agricultural products. The Prime Minister also asked Ambassador Ito Naoki to make efforts to promote cooperation projects between the two countries such as the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Plant, Ho Chi Minh City urban railway line No. 1, etc.

Third, expand more comprehensive cooperation to new areas such as digital transformation, green transformation, innovation, net zero emissions, etc. through the Asian Net Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Initiative.

Fourth, promote technology transfer and innovation more effectively and substantially.

Reception scene.

Fifth, promote closer and deeper human resource connections, labor and local cooperation, cultural exchanges, and people-to-people exchanges. The Prime Minister also asked the Ambassador to increase scholarships for Vietnamese students studying in Japan, develop universities in Vietnam such as the Vietnam-Japan University, and Japanese language departments at universities.

Sixth, the Prime Minister proposed to enhance more substantive and effective mutual cooperation on international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Ambassador Ito Naoki once again expressed his condolences on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; shared that the late General Secretary had many instructions and contributions to the Vietnam-Japan relationship and affirmed that he would inherit the legacy of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong for the development of the relationship between the two countries.

Expressing his delight at starting his term in Vietnam in the context of the two countries' relationship having made great strides in recent times, Ambassador Ito Naoki emphasized that the most important task during his time working in Vietnam is to deepen the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership towards the next 50 years.

Reporting to the Prime Minister that Japanese investment has increased recently, making Japan the second largest investor in Vietnam, the Ambassador set a target of doubling the bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Japan to 100 billion USD after 10 years; committed to coordinating with relevant ministries and branches to promote the progress of projects agreed upon by the two countries' senior leaders; energizing ODA cooperation, promoting new ODA projects for Vietnam in the infrastructure sector; coordinating to promote the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative in the new era to improve Vietnam's investment environment.

The Ambassador also said that Japan will cooperate in training human resources in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) for Vietnam through the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST); affirmed to continue to lobby the Japanese Government to have more preferential policies for Vietnamese workers. The Ambassador also affirmed that Japan will create conditions for Vietnam to successfully participate in the World EXPO in Osaka in 2025.