AMBASSADOR PHAM QUANG HIEU VISITS AND WORKS IN SHIMANE PROVINCE, JAPAN

On July 4, 2025, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu visited and worked in Shimane province - a locality famous for its rich natural landscape, unique traditional culture and strong development potential in the fields of agriculture, processing industry and tourism. Accompanying the Ambassador were Embassy officials and representatives of the Vietnam Digital Transformation Association in Japan (VADX). The visit opened up many opportunities for substantive and extensive cooperation between the two sides.

At the meeting with Governor Maruyama Tatsuya, the Ambassador expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome of the Shimane prefectural government, and highly appreciated the cultural identity, tourism development policy, and innovative spirit of the locality, affirming that the Embassy is always ready to accompany and support the promotion of substantive cooperation between the localities of the two countries - one of the important pillars of the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Ambassador especially appreciated Governor Maruyama's visit to Vietnam and Phu Tho province in May 2024 - a meaningful activity carried out through the first charter flight organized by Vietnam Airlines. The trip not only contributed to promoting the image of Shimane province to the Vietnamese people but also created a positive effect in promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. The Ambassador said that after the merger, the new Phu Tho province (including Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh) has expanded its scale and potential, becoming a leading dynamic development center in Northern Vietnam. The Ambassador expressed his hope that the two provinces will continue to promote delegation exchanges and sign cooperation agreements in the coming time.

Governor Maruyama and the Ambassador also agreed that the two sides will continue to strengthen cooperation in many potential areas such as:

- Investment - trade: Encourage Shimane province's enterprises to promote their activities in Vietnam, especially in strong fields such as mechanics, food processing and high technology.

- Tourism: Continue to promote cooperation through the charter flight model between Shimane and Vietnam. The charter flight is expected to take place in October, not only serving tourism but also creating conditions for training enterprises and trade unions in Shimane province to visit and work with agencies, organizations and vocational training facilities in Vietnam in the field of labor.

- Labor: There are currently more than 1,700 Vietnamese workers living and working in the province, the second largest group of foreigners in Shimane. The Ambassador hopes that the province will continue to support the organization of cultural and sports events to promote the long-term attachment of workers to the locality, and support the establishment of the Vietnamese Association and the Vietnam - Shimane Friendship Association in the locality.

- Digital Transformation (DX): The Ambassador proposed to strengthen cooperation between Shimane province and Vietnamese technology enterprises, through connecting with the Vietnam Digital Transformation Association in Japan (VADX), to deploy practical digital transformation solutions suitable for the development characteristics of the province.

During the visit, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu attended the Shimane - Vietnam Economic Seminar with the participation of many local enterprises. Speaking at the workshop, the Ambassador gave an overview of Vietnam's socio-economic development, information on the merger of provincial administrative units and emphasized the Vietnamese Government's efforts in administrative reform and improving the investment and business environment. The Ambassador affirmed that in the context of the Vietnam-Japan relationship being at its most extensive, substantial and effective stage of development ever, the potential for cooperation between businesses of the two countries - including Shimane Prefecture - is huge and needs to be exploited more strongly.

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu with the Governor of Shimane Prefecture

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu speaks at a discussion with businesses in Shimane Prefecture