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On April 15, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takiachi, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attended the online Asia Zero-Emission Community (AZEC) Summit on energy self-sufficiency, chaired by Takiachi. The summit brought together leaders from 15 countries, including 10 AZEC member states—Japan, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—and five guest countries: Korea, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and East Timor. Leaders from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) also participated.
Prime Minister Sanae Takiachi announced Japan’s plan to allocate a $10 billion package to diversify energy supplies for Asia. The proposal focuses on emergency measures, including procurement and maintaining supply chains, alongside efforts to strengthen long-term energy resilience.
Takiachi also proposed upgrading AZEC to AZEC 2.0 to enhance energy security and bolster the resilience of Asian economies.
Prime Minister Le Minh Hung said the current energy crisis reflects not only short-term fluctuations but also structural imbalances, alongside rising strategic competition for energy resources. He argued that addressing the issue requires more than supply diversification, emphasizing the need to strengthen strategic trust and promote cooperation, dialogue, and peaceful dispute resolution under international law.
Le Minh Hung reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, with renewable energy development and a green transition described as strategic priorities. He proposed three key directions to address energy challenges and maintain supply chains:
Le Minh Hung expressed Vietnam’s support for upgrading AZEC to AZEC 2.0 and reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to actively and closely cooperate with Japan and partners to implement AZEC initiatives aimed at a greener, more sustainable, and more prosperous future for current and future generations.
At the conference, Prime Minister Sanae Takiachi thanked the Vietnamese leadership for its remarks and proposals. She said Japan would promptly coordinate with relevant agencies to operationalize the initiatives with other participating countries.
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