The commitment came during Takaichi’s visit to Hanoi, where the two leaders discussed expanding the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established in 2023, covering sectors including energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space cooperation.

“The two sides identified economic security as a new priority area for bilateral cooperation,” Takaichi told reporters after the meeting.“With regard to critical minerals, both sides agreed to strengthen close coordination to ensure stable supplies and reinforce supply chains,” she said.

The talks come as Japanese investment flows into Vietnam weakened sharply despite stronger trade ties. New Japanese investment in Vietnam fell about 75% year-on-year to $233 million in the first quarter of 2026, while bilateral trade rose 12.3% to $13.7 billion during the same period, according to Vietnamese government and customs data.

Japan remains one of Vietnam’s largest foreign investors, with major Japanese manufacturers operating extensive production bases in the country across electronics, automotive and industrial sectors.As part of the visit, both governments signed six agreements covering infrastructure development, climate action, agriculture, digital transformation, technology cooperation and space development, reinforcing broader strategic cooperation beyond trade.

Vietnam has also been seeking support from Japan and other partners to stabilize oil supplies as conflict in the Middle East pushes up crude prices and disrupts shipping routes.Under Japan’s $10 billion Power Asia Initiative, designed to strengthen energy self-reliance across Asia, Tokyo will help arrange crude oil supplies for Vietnam’s Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, one of the country’s most important energy facilities, Prime Minister Hung said.

Takaichi is also scheduled to meet To Lam and senior Communist Party leadership later on Saturday and deliver a keynote address at Vietnam National University.Her speech is expected to mark a decade since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe introduced Japan’s “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” strategy, a regional framework aimed at strengthening rules-based order, maritime security and economic cooperation across Asia.

Vietnam has publicly supported Japan’s regional initiatives, including the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision, aligning them with ASEAN’s broader Indo-Pacific outlook and emphasizing international law, regional stability and balanced strategic autonomy.Hung said Vietnam viewed the framework as contributing positively to “peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.”

The visit reflects Tokyo’s broader effort to deepen strategic partnerships across Southeast Asia as competition over technology, trade routes, mineral access and energy security intensifies across the Indo-Pacific.

Lee’s trip would come shortly after Lam’s election as president last week, a development that consolidates his authority by combining the presidency with leadership of the ruling Communist Party, the country’s most powerful political position.

The meeting is expected to underscore ties between the two countries, which have developed extensive economic and strategic cooperation in recent years, though specific agenda details were not disclosed by the sources.

Reuters could not immediately verify further details of the planned discussions, and officials from both governments have not publicly commented on the visit.

Lam’s visit, his first overseas trip since assuming the presidency on April 7, is expected to deepen bilateral ties and produce multiple cooperation agreements, reflecting what both sides have described as a new phase of relations marked by stronger political trust and expanded security and economic collaboration.

The shift comes amid rising influence of security-focused leadership in Hanoi, with Lam, a former public security chief, consolidating power in a manner observers say mirrors China’s centralized governance structure.

His leadership marks a departure from Vietnam’s traditional model of collective decision-making.Analysts say Vietnam is pursuing a dual-track strategy, maintaining engagement with Western partners while increasingly adopting China-inspired policies domestically.

This includes a growing emphasis on state-led regulation, particularly in sensitive areas such as data governance and digital infrastructure.Draft policy documents indicate Vietnam is considering tighter controls over data flows, including the creation of state-run data exchanges overseen by security authorities, reflecting China’s centralized data management system.

Western governments and technology firms have raised concerns over such measures, particularly restrictions on cross-border data transfers.Technology cooperation has also intensified. Vietnam has eased earlier reservations over Chinese involvement in its telecommunications infrastructure, including potential partnerships linked to equipment providers associated with Huawei.

Discussions are also underway regarding Chinese investment in data centres and additional 5G development.The country is simultaneously expanding its national digital identification system, integrating artificial intelligence-driven surveillance networks, in a move analysts say parallels China’s approach to social monitoring and governance.

Economically, Vietnam is increasingly adopting state-driven strategies similar to China’s model, including subsidies, large-scale infrastructure projects and greater government intervention in financial markets. Proposals under consideration include a stabilization fund to support equity markets during downturns, drawing directly on Chinese precedent.

Despite these shifts, Vietnam continues to balance its geopolitical positioning, maintaining ties with the United States and other Western partners. However, China’s growing role in trade and investment is becoming more pronounced, with bilateral economic integration reaching record levels.

Experts warn that deeper alignment with China could have broader implications for Vietnam’s economic autonomy and international relationships, particularly if governance and regulatory convergence accelerates further.

All 495 lawmakers present endorsed his nomination, according to parliament, formalizing a dual leadership structure that departs from Vietnam’s long-standing system of collective governance.

Lam, who secured a second term earlier this year as head of the Communist Party of Vietnam, now holds both the top party and state positions for the next five years. Analysts say the concentration of authority could streamline policymaking but also raises concerns about increased centralization of power.

In a televised address after the vote, Lam pledged to pursue a new growth strategy driven by science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, while emphasizing stability, self-reliance in defense and improvements in living standards.

The leadership shift marks a structural change in Vietnam’s political system, bringing it closer to models seen in other one-party states where power is concentrated in a single figure.

Observers say this could accelerate economic decision-making in the fast-growing Southeast Asian economy.Lam, 68, previously served as minister of public security and has promoted reforms aimed at boosting competitiveness and reducing reliance on low-cost manufacturing.

His policies have drawn both praise from investors and concerns over potential risks such as market distortions, favouritism and asset bubbles.Vietnam’s foreign policy is expected to remain broadly unchanged, with Lam continuing a balancing approach between major powers while expanding global partnerships.

The National Assembly is expected to appoint a new prime minister later on Tuesday to replace Pham Minh Chinh.