Viet Nam, Yamanashi promote agricultural cooperation

On November 7, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung held talks with Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture, to discuss orientations for promoting bilateral cooperation in agriculture.

At the meeting, both sides highlighted the potential for cooperation between Viet Nam and Yamanashi Prefecture, particularly given the complementary strengths of the two sides in technology, investment capital, management capacity, market size and agricultural resources.

They agreed to strengthen bilateral connections, not only to promote agricultural trade but also to expand cooperation in science and technology, human resource training and sustainable agricultural development.

One of the key topics discussed was promoting agricultural trade. As an immediate priority, both sides agreed to complete market access procedures for Vietnamese pomelos and Japanese grapes, aiming to bring these products to each other’s markets during the 2027 harvest season. They will subsequently continue efforts to secure market access for Vietnamese passion fruit and Japanese peaches.

Beyond trade, Minister Trinh Viet Hung proposed that Yamanashi strengthen experience-sharing and technology transfer in the development of high-tech, modern, sustainable and low-emission agriculture. The two sides could cooperate on cultivation techniques for sloping and acid sulfate soils, the development of high-tech greenhouse systems, and the exchange of experience in managing and protecting headwater forests, as well as preventing flash floods and landslides.

Introducing the prefecture’s strengths, Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said that Yamanashi’s agricultural production value reached JPY 133.8 billion in 2025. Notably, forests cover 77.8% of the prefecture’s total area, reflecting an approach that links agricultural production with the conservation of natural resources.

This is an experience that Viet Nam is interested in studying and adapting to its own context in developing agriculture and protecting the environment.

Both sides also underscored the importance of human resource training, expert exchanges, technical cooperation and experience-sharing in product commercialisation. Viet Nam highly values Yamanashi Prefecture’s model of cooperation among local authorities, businesses and research institutes, and expressed its interest in studying and learning from this approach to enhance the effectiveness of agricultural cooperation.

Regarding rural development, Minister Trinh Viet Hung said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is the lead agency responsible for implementing the National Target Programme on New Rural Development.

Viet Nam hopes that Yamanashi Prefecture will share its experience in rural planning, transport infrastructure development and the construction of essential facilities, contributing to improved living standards for rural residents.

Governor Kotaro Nagasaki affirmed that Yamanashi is ready to promote agricultural exports, support technology transfer, share experience in sustainable development and participate in cooperation programmes with Viet Nam.

The talks open up further opportunities for substantive cooperation between Viet Nam and Yamanashi Prefecture, with a focus on leveraging each side’s strengths, improving agricultural product quality, expanding markets and promoting sustainable agricultural development.