In a bilateral meeting on November 25, Vietnam initiated talks with Japan to strengthen disaster risk management and develop climate-resilient infrastructure.
Japan signalled strong willingness to collaborate, presenting possible tech solutions and partners such as Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Pacific Consultants.
Both Vietnam and Japan agreed that climate change response was core pillar of the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The cooperation is expected to soon produce concrete local projects, directly benefiting communities most affected by climate change.
An urgent concern
During the meeting, deputy minister of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) Le Cong Thanh warned that climate change was evolving in an increasingly complex and unpredictable manner that is making traditional forecasting methods inadequate in the face of worsening climate events.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), natural disasters in 2025 caused severe damage, posing an urgent need to modernise Vietnam’s disaster risk governance technologies.
The deputy minister highlighted that Japan’s expertise in disaster risk management systems, disaster response models, and highly climate-resilient infrastructure, make it a key partner to support Vietnam in its efforts.
Vietnam has proposed a cooperation with Japan to develop a suite of digital tools built on four key pillars: Digital Twin modelling, artificial intelligence (AI), satellite observation and data governance.
The aim is to improve risk assessment, forecasting accuracy, early warning, and post-disaster recovery.
The Digital Twin pillar will entail the development of simulation technologies capable of modelling flooding, storm surges and urban disaster scenarios.
Vietnam expects these tools to support drainage planning, evacuation strategies and infrastructure stress-testing, with pilot projects initially deployed in coastal cities.
Additionally, Vietnam expects AI to play a key role in analysing meteorological and seismic data.
With machine-learning models, the country can improve the speed and precision of flood and landslide forecasting, while also enabling real-time emergency response planning.
Vietnam also proposed expanded collaboration on satellite applications to support large-scale, real-time environmental monitoring.
Priority areas include coastal erosion mapping, forest and flood surveillance, and sea-level rise tracking, particularly in the vulnerable Mekong Delta.
Satellite imagery would also enable faster post-disaster damage assessments.
Vietnam aims to develop a national disaster data management platform that allows seamless data sharing across ministries and encourages open data policies.
MST said this would foster stronger public-private partnerships and stimulate innovation in forecasting and disaster recovery solutions.
Japan’s response
Japan representatives at the meeting presented a range of climate adaptation solutions currently being implemented.
It highlighted the water environment management and circular economy initiatives in Shiga Prefecture, as well as Yamanashi Prefecture’s green hydrogen production and clean energy models.
It noted potential applications of Yamanashi Prefecture’s initiatives in Vietnam.
Japanese constructing consultancy Pacific Consultants presented modern solutions for rainwater storage, flood control and early warning systems, which it said align closely with Vietnam’s concerns.
JBIC Bank outlined its approach to green finance, energy transition and public-private partnerships under the AZEC/GX framework, signalling new avenues for project funding.
