Vietnam President to visit Japan as countries discuss stronger ties

News Snapshot:

HANOI – Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong will visit Japan next week, a spokesperson for Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry said on Nov 23, as the two countries discuss strengthening their relations. Closer ties would confirm Vietnam’s increasingly strategic role as an important link in global supply chains amid trade tension between China and the West, which is helping to bring foreign investment to the South-east Asian country as some companies relocate operations from China. The elevation of ties with Japan would follow Vietnam’s historic upgrade of relations with the United States in September, when the former foes signed multiple cooperation agreements,...