| | | | | Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaks at the 2026 Viet Nam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Hue city on September 6. | The forum, focusing on building a digital, green and sustainable future, was jointly organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam and the central city. It brought together representatives from 18 Japanese localities and more than 100 leading Japanese corporations and businesses. In his remarks, PM Le Minh Hung said after four decades of Doi moi (renewal), Viet Nam has become the world’s 32nd largest economy and one of the 15 largest trading nations, participated in 17 free trade agreements and connected with 60 major economies. Per capita GDP has increased nearly 50-fold compared with the beginning of the reform process. Against the backdrop of rapid and complex global changes, Viet Nam remains steadfast in maintaining stability to promote development and pursuing development to consolidate stability, he said. The country is determined to achieve double-digit economic growth during 2026-2030 while maintaining macroeconomic stability and promoting rapid, sustainable development based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. | | | | | Prime Minister Le Minh Hung poses for a photo with delegates attending the 2026 Viet Nam-Japan Local Cooperation Forum in Hue city on September 6. | PM Le Minh Hung stressed that Viet Nam seeks to attract foreign investment projects featuring advanced technologies, knowledge, modern governance, research and development, high-quality human resources and substantive links with domestic enterprises. He proposed five orientations for future cooperation. First, Viet Nam and Japan should work to become partners in high-quality growth and strategic autonomy based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, and promote cooperation models in digital technologies, AI, semiconductors, smart cities,