The objective of this program is to facilitate visits to Japan by promising young Vietnamese leaders who are expected to have a direct impact on the nation's policymaking in the near future. Recognizing the increasing strategic importance of the Japan- Vietnam relationship for both nations, the program seeks to cultivate next-generation leaders, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen trust between the two countries.
With the cooperation of the Asian Forum Japan and the Japan-Vietnam Economic Exchange Center, the program has invited young Vietnamese leaders to Japan once a year since 2004. A new theme is determined each year: "administrative reform" in 2004; "higher education" in 2005; and "corruption countermeasures" in 2006. Each year, six individuals from key institutions in Vietnam spend ten days in Japan, where they share ideas with individuals in related fields, such as government, the political and business sectors, academia, and civil society. Efforts are made to ensure that the outcomes of the program are disseminated. For example, the content covered during the Japan visits is compiled into an annual report, which is distributed to relevant organizations throughout Vietnam.
In fiscal 2006, six leaders from Vietnamese institutions involved in the prevention of corruption, such as the parliament, the Government Inspectorate, and the Fatherland Front, visited Tokyo and Osaka November 5-14, 2006, to study corruption prevention policies. This subject is of great interest and pressing importance in Vietnam, given the country's ongoing administrative reform campaign. Participants were given opportunities to share their thinking with people in a wide range of organizations, including institutions involved in central and local government administration, judicial affairs, and legislative affairs (e.g., the National Personnel Authority, the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, the Supreme Court, the Research Bureau of the House of Representatives, and the the Osaka Prefectural Government), as well as the political arena (Japan-Vietnam Parliamentarians' Friendship League), the media (Sankei Shimbun), academia (University of Tokyo, Waseda University, etc.), and organizations (Transparency Japan, Civic Group Mihariban [Watch Man], etc.) On February 6, 2007, a wrap up meeting was held in Hanoi to strengthen the personal relationships built over the course of the program. About 30 people, including past participants, discussed their thoughts about the exchange visits.
This program has given Vietnamese participants opportunities to deepen their understanding of the Japanese experience and social conditions. It has also given them access to many suggestions that allow them to view their own country's circumstances from a broader perspective. The program also helped to increase the level of interest in Vietnam among the Japanese participants, who learned a great deal about the country over the course of the discussions and exchange sessions.