Japan eyes Nov. summit with Vietnam in Tokyo on energy, security

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is contemplating a summit with Vietnamese President To Lam in Tokyo in early November, according to sources. The purpose of the talks would be to address energy and security cooperation, with the looming Middle East conflict and China's expanding influence raising concerns over energy supplies.

The meeting, tentatively scheduled for November 9, may culminate in a joint statement from the two leaders. Their previous interaction in May saw Takaichi express her intention to invite Lam to Japan later in the year.

The summit is expected to focus on how Japan can assist other Asian countries with limited strategic oil reserves in building up their stockpiles through a financing framework led by Tokyo. The Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex in Vietnam was identified as the first project under this scheme in May, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the U.S.-Iran war that began in late February.

In addition to energy, Takaichi is likely to seek an agreement with Lam on strengthening critical mineral supply chains, including rare earths, amidst China's export controls on Japan. Vietnam is thought to possess significant rare earth reserves.

On the security front, the concept of Japan's diplomatic vision of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" is set to be discussed. This notion is widely perceived as a subtle counter to China's growing assertiveness in the region. Despite having a territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea, Vietnam has maintained a balanced diplomatic stance towards Beijing, with Lam having visited China in April for discussions with President Xi Jinping.

Meanwhile, Japan remains in disagreement with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea that it administers but China lays claim to.