Tokyo (VNA) – The Japanese media on April 28 continued extensive coverage of Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru’s official visit to Vietnam, underscoring the significant outcomes of his high-level talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Major outlets, including the official website of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyodo News, NHK, the Asahi Shimbun, the Sankei Shimbun, and the Japan Times, provided detailed reports on the meeting. Particular emphasis was placed on the two PMs’ shared commitment to upholding the international order and promoting a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based trading system.

NHK also broadcast footage of PM Ishiba laying a wreath and paying his respects at the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh.

According to the press release cited by the Japanese media following the joint press conference, the two Government leaders agreed to upgrade the countries’ existing strategic partnership dialogue at the vice-ministerial level to a new “2+2” format involving both foreign and defence vice-ministers, with the inaugural session to be held later this year.

Kyodo and NHK also quoted PM Ishiba as stating that strengthening the relationship with Vietnam, a nation of great geopolitical importance, will contribute to the region’s stability and prosperity, and that the two nations will embark together on a new era.

Further analysis from the Japanese media included comments from Associate Professor Saya Kiba of Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, who highlighted Vietnam’s key role within Southeast Asia, where economic growth remains robust.

She noted that Vietnam is among the countries poised to benefit from multilateral free trade. Amid concerns that the free trade system could be undermined by US tariff measures, economic frameworks such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) are likely to become increasingly critical. Saya Kiba also underlined the significance of theﷺ high-level talks between Vietnam and Japan, given the two na💞tions’ close economic ties./.