Japan, which withdrew from Vietnam's nuclear power project last year, is set to resume cooperation with Vietnam on small modular reactors (SMRs). The leaders of both countries met in Tokyo on November 9 and agreed to pursue technological collaboration and workforce training in the SMR sector, which Vietnam aims to introduce after 2040. They also agreed to enhance cooperation on supply chains for critical minerals, including rare earths.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President, described each other as key long-term partners with many common interests in a joint vision statement released after their meeting. The statement reaffirmed Japan's status as one of Vietnam's priority partners in nuclear power development and confirmed ongoing cooperation in this area.
During the meeting, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade exchanged memorandums of understanding on nuclear power cooperation and artificial intelligence research and development. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), the focus of nuclear cooperation will be on SMR technology and workforce training. This marks the first visit by a top Vietnamese leader to Japan since Nguyen Phu Trong's visit in 2015. President Trong is scheduled to meet with the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a royal luncheon on November 11.
Nikkei reported that Japan withdrew from Vietnam's nuclear project last year, believing it would be difficult for Vietnam to operate a nuclear plant by its target date of 2035. This time, Japan aims to reestablish nuclear cooperation centered on SMRs.
Japan's renewed engagement is influenced by movements from Russia and China. In March, Vietnam signed an agreement with Russia to introduce large reactors from the state-owned Rosatom, while China has expressed interest in supporting nuclear projects in Southeast Asia. The Nikkei noted that the choice of partners in nuclear power, which requires decades of maintenance and securing parts and personnel, significantly impacts the autonomy of the adopting country. Japan aims to establish a foundation for long-term cooperation through SMRs.
The two countries also agreed to strengthen collaboration in critical minerals and security. Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized in a joint press conference after the meeting that "economic security is a priority area for cooperation between Japan and Vietnam." According to the Asahi Shimbun, the leaders agreed to expedite the identification of cooperative projects involving both government and private sectors to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, including rare earths. In the security sector, Japan plans to apply its Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, which provides defense equipment to friendly nations at no cost, to Vietnam for the early provision of equipment for United Nations peacekeeping operations. The two countries are also considering joint development and production of high-speed landing craft.
However, the Asahi reported that Vietnam is pursuing a "multidirectional diplomacy" strategy, maintaining balanced relations with major countries rather than leaning toward any specific nation. Vietnam has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with several countries, including Japan, China, Russia, and the United States. Although Vietnam is in conflict with China over territorial claims in the South China Sea, President Trong chose China as his first overseas destination after assuming both roles in April.
Japan's interest in Vietnam is also linked to this context. Prime Minister Takaichi selected Vietnam as the venue for announcing a revised version of Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" initiative in May, and President Trong reaffirmed support for this initiative during their recent meeting. The Nikkei analyzed that Japan aims to prevent Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, from deepening their dependence on China and Russia while seizing economic opportunities arising from Vietnam's growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Vietnam's real economic growth rate for this year to be 8.4%, placing it among the top in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Meanwhile, as the ASEAN-related summit opens in Manila on November 15, a senior official from Japan's Foreign Ministry told the Asahi, "Cooperation with Vietnam is crucial for realizing Japan's 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' vision."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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