Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae holds talks with Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng on May 2 during her official visit to Việt Nam from May 1-3. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI - Japanese media on May 2 extensively covered Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s visit to Việt Nam, highlighting her key activities, including meetings with key Vietnamese leaders.

During her stay, the Japanese PM met with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee and State President Tô Lâm, held talks with Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng, and delivered a speech at Vietnam National University, Hà Nội on the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy.

Nikkei reported that at the reception, Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm recalled his multiple visits to Japan before assuming his current position, and called late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other Japanese politicians as “great friends of Việt Nam.”

According to Nikkei, Prime Minister Takaichi affirmed that Japan will continue to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Việt Nam and coordinate efforts to build a “stronger and more prosperous” region.

The newspaper also noted that Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm continues to demonstrate a policy orientation that values diplomacy and international cooperation amid global uncertainties.

Meanwhile, Asahi highlighted economic security cooperation during the talks between PM Lê Minh Hưng and PM Takaichi. According to the article, the two sides announced a joint document to strengthen cooperation in ensuring supply chains for energy and strategic minerals, aiming to diversify sources amid intensifying geopolitical competition.

The newspaper quoted Prime Minister Takaichi as saying that Việt Nam is an important link in regional supply chains and a highly valued partner for Japan. For his part, PM Hưng emphasised the desire to promote more substantive cooperation measures in areas of mutual interest.

Yomiuri reported that the two PMs also agreed to advance support measures for Việt Nam’s oil refinery to ensure a stable supply of essential materials for Japan. According to the newspaper, this will be the first project under the US$100-billion “Power Asia” energy support initiative proposed by PM Takaichi.

Both Yomiuri and Mainichi paid significant attention to Prime Minister Takaichi’s speech at Vietnam National University, Hà Nội, viewing it as an important milestone in the next phase of the FOIP strategy. Analyses noted that Japan continues to regard Southeast Asia, particularly Việt Nam, as a central region in maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

Meanwhile, NHK reported that in her speech, PM Takaichi outlined three major pillars of the new FOIP phase. The first is enhancing the resilience of energy supply chains and critical materials, while promoting research and development in AI and infrastructure such as undersea fiber-optic cables.

The second is expanding a rules-based economic order, including broadening membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and establishing rules to avoid dependence on a single country for critical supplies.

The third is strengthening security cooperation with like-minded countries through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework to improve maritime security capabilities, including the provision of defense equipment. VNA/VNS