Vietnam, Japan Cooperate Toward Green Growth

Workers at a high-tech farm in HCM City. Photo: VNS

The seminar themed "Vietnam-Japan cooperation toward green growth" took place on September 12 in Hanoi. The seminar was co-organized by the Vietnam News, the country's English launguage daily newspaper under the Vietnam News Agency, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

The event was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Attending the seminar are delegations from various Vietnamese ministries and sectors such as the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), representatives from the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), leaders of several provinces and cities in Vietnam, along with experts and businesses from both countries.

Opening the seminar, Vu Viet Trang, general director of the Vietnam News Agency appreciated the initiative to organize the event.

This is an opportunity for delegates to share their views, opportunities and challenges in implementing the National Strategy on green growth for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

They discussed the meaning of support from Japan for the green development strategy in Vietnam, as well as proposed and recommended solutions to help implement this strategy.

Vu Viet Trang noted that over the past half-century, the relationship between Vietnam and Japan has been continuously strengthened and developed. The two countries consider each other as important partners in implementing cooperation in foreign affairs, economics and trade.

Currently, the trade relationship between Vietnam and Japan is built on the foundation of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements that the two countries signed, as well as through foreign direct investment (FDI) projects and official development assistance (ODA) capital from Japan in Vietnam.

For many years, Japan has been the leading ODA investment and aid partner in Vietnam. Bilateral trade turnover in 2022 reached nearly US$50 billion.

Participants to the seminar pose for a group photo. Photo: VNS

At the recent high-level economic seminar between Vietnam and Japan, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the new direction in the relationship between the two countries. It is cooperation towards sustainable development and green growth.

This is also the inevitable path of development not only for Vietnam but also for many countries around the world in the context of complex climate change, becoming an issue of common global concern.

For Vietnam, implementing green growth also aims to fulfill commitments at the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), carrying out Vietnam's responsibilities towards the international community.

"Through this seminar, I believe that Japanese organizations and businesses will have more information about policy priorities and green growth strategies of Vietnam and localities particularly, opening up new opportunities for cooperation in areas where the two sides have potential and strengths," General Director Vu Viet Trang said.

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu expressed his joy that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Japan is at the best stage in history, worthy of an extensive strategic partnership based on sincerity, trust and mutual support.

"In the medium and long term, towards the goal of 2030-2050, the two countries still have a lot of potential for further cooperation in green technology, energy conversion, and bilateral research cooperation with Japanese technology in accordance with Vietnam's level and transformation roadmap," Hieu said.

At the seminar, the representative of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) emphasized that focusing on green development is important to solve urgent problems in Vietnam, including water quality, air pollution, waste management, recycling, energy efficiency, and carbon emissions.

JETRO recommended that the Vietnamese Government implement stricter environmental regulations, promote the environmental responsibility of manufacturers, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.

They cooperated with agricultural companies in improving living conditions and deploying modern technology to minimize the impact of climate change and natural disasters.

As of August 2023, Japan is investing in 5,168 projects in Vietnam with a total registered investment capital of more than US$71 billion. Japan currently ranks third among 143 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

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