Sawt Falasteen - Japan PM meets top Vietnam leaders in Hanoi

The trip is Takaichi's first to Vietnam since becoming prime minister in October and she is seeking deeper bilateral cooperation on energy security, supply chain resilience and technological innovation.

The two countries agreed to work more closely on "economic security including energy, important mineral resources, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and space", Takaichi said after meeting Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Japan is Vietnam's largest provider of official development assistance and a key investor and trading partner, with two-way trade surpassing $50 billion for the first time last year.

The two countries also have a high-level strategic partnership which they agreed Saturday to advance into a "new phase of development", Hung said after the meeting.

He said the two leaders signed six agreements spanning technology, climate preparedness and information and communication.

They also "reaffirmed the importance of resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means based on international law," he added.

Both Japan and Vietnam share concerns about China's territorial claims in the East and South China Seas, and both have sought to hedge against US-driven trade disruptions by broadening economic and security ties.

But Hanoi aims to stay on good terms with all global powers through its traditional "bamboo diplomacy" approach, while Tokyo has seen its already frosty relations with Beijing deteriorate markedly in recent months.

Takaichi drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing in November when she suggested that close US ally Japan might intervene militarily to thwart any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan.

China, which regards democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to annex it, summoned Japan's ambassador, warned Chinese citizens against visiting Japan and imposed trade restrictions.

Beijing has also slammed Takaichi's calls for a "free and open Indo-Pacific", saying they are a veiled attempt to promote bloc confrontation.

Takaichi will return to the theme in her speech on Saturday, according to Japanese media reports, calling for cooperation to ensure security, free trade and stable supply chains including for energy and critical minerals.

"Vietnam highlights strategic self-reliance with a positive and active external foreign policy," she said in Hanoi Saturday.

"Therefore, increasing cooperation with Vietnam is extremely important for the realisation and progress of (a) free and open Indo-Pacific".

G.AbuGhazaleh--SF-PST