A few days ago, high-level exchanges between China and Vietnam were conducted in Vietnam and a series of cooperation agreements and consensus were reached. However, it is worth mentioning that shortly after the Vietnamese side finished talking with China, a special plane quickly departed from China and flew to Japan, and it seemed that it was rushing to discuss major matters with Kishida. According to Takao Yamada, the Vietnamese ambassador to Vietnam** and Japan, after the conclusion of the high-level dialogue with China, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived at Tokyo's Haneda International Airport to participate in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between ASEAN and Japan. During this period, the Vietnamese high-level and Japan** held in-depth discussions on many issues, including labor cooperation, industrial chain investment, and the construction of Vietnam's north-south high-speed railway. On the afternoon of the 16th local time, Pham Minh Chinh also held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida. It is understood that Kishida** has decided to establish 42.3 billion yen for development** to assist Vietnam in the construction of Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 1, and it is not over here, Japan will also set up a Japanese scholarship in Vietnam to help Vietnam cultivate industrial talents needed after the transfer of the industrial chain. In addition, Japan intends to provide energy support for Vietnam's natural gas project in the U Mun B area in the southern South China Sea and a power plant in southern Vietnam.
From the above news, it is not difficult to see that the scope of Japan's support and assistance to Vietnam has expanded, and from the previous infrastructure construction, it has gradually shifted to the development of industrial cooperation, industrial personnel training, personnel exchanges, etc. This shows that Kishida is well aware of the urgency of upgrading Vietnam's industrial structure. Of course, this also includes Kishida's political considerations. To a certain extent, this is very closely related to Japan's strategy of seeking to divert the industrial chain to avoid risks and contain China in order to contain China.
However, although the Vietnamese have made many gains from their trip to Japan, they have not made sufficient progress on the railway issue, which they are most concerned about. The main reason for this dilemma is that Vietnam's high-speed rail project is beyond the scope of Japan's acceptance. On the other hand, the reason why Vietnam has to go to Japan to negotiate on this matter when it has recently made significant progress in railway cooperation with China is probably to get a more favorable railway project between China and Japan**. Of course, the first factor is only one level, more precisely, Vietnam wants to have an additional guarantee in the later maintenance of the railway, and at the same time maintaining communication with Japan is also in line with Vietnam's new idea of building the railway in time and sections, which can greatly reduce the financial pressure in Vietnam and avoid the risk of breakdown of cooperation with one party in the middle.
It is understandable that Vietnam has such considerations, but it is based on the fact that it will benefit itself at the expense of other countries, which will not bring more benefits to Vietnam, but will only cause more trouble for Vietnam. This should be well known to the Vietnamese leadership. However, judging from Vietnam's latest attitude, in Japan's direction, they should not give up diplomatic efforts in the near future. Perhaps in their eyes, it is some kind of flexible diplomacy. When attending the 32nd Diplomatic Conference of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Bui Thanh Son, the Minister of Vietnam, said that in the context of complex geopolitics, Vietnam needs to adopt the external approach of "bamboo diplomacy", and while firmly defending the territorial sovereignty and integrity and other issues of principle, it should also flexibly apply it in strategy and behavior, properly handle foreign affairs and partnerships, and open up a new situation conducive to national development. It is true that diplomacy needs to be flexible, and it is difficult to describe international affairs in a word, but flexibility does not mean vacillation, nor does it mean that the established line will be changed due to the change of interests, especially Sino-Vietnamese cooperation and exchanges. As the United States, Japan and other countries continue to increase their investment in Vietnam to enhance their influence and presence, Vietnam needs to wake up in time and be vigilant against falling into some kind of diplomatic "trap".