• Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi signs six agreements with Vietnam during her visit.
• The focus includes economic security, energy cooperation, and critical minerals.
• The leaders reaffirm concerns regarding China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
• Takaichi emphasizes a "free and open" Indo-Pacific in her speeches.
• The bilateral trade between Japan and Vietnam surpassed US$50 billion last year.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with top Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on May 2, where she signed six agreements enhancing cooperation on energy security, supply chain resilience, and technological innovation. This visit marks her first since becoming prime minister last October, and it aims to deepen Japan's significant role in Vietnam, which has become Japan's largest recipient of official development assistance. Notably, two-way trade between the nations exceeded US$50 billion last year, revealing strong economic ties, according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

The agreements, which span technology, infrastructure, and agriculture, underscore a mutual commitment to strengthen economic security regarding critical minerals and energy supplies. Takaichi emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach to ensure stable supply chains, particularly in the face of rising global tensions affecting oil and resource markets. These discussions reflect a shared apprehension regarding China's territorial ambitions in the East and South China Seas, and both countries have worked to bolster security ties against US-led trade disruptions, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

During her speech at a university in Hanoi, Takaichi articulated Japan's commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific" and called for greater regional cooperation to maintain freedom in maritime navigation and trade. This vision, first articulated by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been met with criticism from Beijing, further complicating Japan's relations with China amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. Takaichi's remarks emphasized the importance of resilience and self-determination for Asian nations, particularly in the context of enhancing cooperation with Vietnam, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

Following these diplomatic engagements, Takaichi is set to meet Vietnamese President To Lam, who is also the leader of the ruling Communist Party. This visit underscores Japan's strategic pivot to strengthen partnerships with Southeast Asian nations amid rising economic competition from China and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East that are affecting global supply chains. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to resolving disputes in the South China Sea through peaceful means based on international law, showcasing a unified stance against potential aggression, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.