On August 28, 2026, at the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu received Abe Shuichi, Governor of Nagano Prefecture, to exchange views on promoting cooperation between Nagano Prefecture and Vietnamese localities.

At the meeting, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu congratulated Governor Abe Shuichi on continuing to earn the trust of the people of Nagano Prefecture and on his recent re-election to a fifth term as Governor. The Ambassador affirmed that Nagano Prefecture has many strengths that align with Viet Nam’s development needs, and noted that cooperation between Viet Nam and Nagano has become increasingly substantive in recent years across a wide range of areas, including economy, investment, labor, tourism, local-level exchanges and people-to-people exchanges. The Ambassador also highly appreciated the establishment and active activities of the Japan–Viet Nam Economic and Human Resource Exchange Association in Nagano Prefecture, and expressed his wish to continue working with Governor Abe Shuichi to further promote cooperation between Nagano and Viet Nam in the coming period. The Ambassador thanked the Nagano Prefectural Government for its attention and support for the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in the prefecture, and expressed his hope that the prefecture would continue to create favorable conditions for the community to better integrate into local society.

On this occasion, Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu cordially invited Governor Abe Shuichi to attend the Viet Nam–Japan Local Cooperation Forum, scheduled to be held on September 5–6, 2026, in Hue City. He also requested the Governor’s support in sharing information and encouraging Japanese localities to participate in the Forum, thereby contributing to making local-level cooperation between the two countries increasingly substantive and effective.

Governor Abe Shuichi thanked Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu for his congratulations and warm reception, affirming that Nagano Prefecture attaches great importance to its relations with Viet Nam and wishes to work closely with the Embassy of Viet Nam in Japan to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in areas of mutual interest. Both sides agreed to maintain regular exchanges and close coordination in the coming time in order to promote substantive and effective cooperation between Nagano Prefecture and Vietnamese partners, contributing to further deepening the Viet Nam–Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.