On May 12, 2023, Ambassador Designate Designate Pham Quang Hieu handed over a copy of the Letter of Credentials to Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mori Takeo. Vice Minister Mori Takeo warmly welcomed Ambassador Designate Designate Pham Quang Hieu to Japan, expressing his confidence that the Ambassador Designate Designate would successfully complete his duties, contributing positively to the bilateral relations between the two countries. The Vice Minister also pledged to create all favorable conditions for Ambassador Designate Designate Pham Quang Hieu to successfully fulfill his duties.

Ambassador Designate Designate Pham Quang Hieu expressed his honour to be appointed as Vietnam's Ambassador Designate to Japan at a crucial time in bilateral relations, as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The Ambassador Designate Designate affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing relations with Japan, one of Vietnam's leading partners. The Ambassador Designate is committed to make every effort during his tenure to further promote the Vietnam-Japan Strategic Partnership.

The two sides agreed to promote effective implementation of bilateral cooperation plans in the coming time, including exchange of delegations, especially high-level delegations, strengthening cooperation in various fields from politics, diplomacy, to defense, security, trade, investment, labor, education, culture, health, science and technology, tourism, local cooperation, people-to- people exchanges... Ambassador Designate Pham Quang Hieu emphasized that the Vietnamese community in Japan is growing and has now become the 2nd largest foreign community in Japan with nearly half a million people, making important contributions to the development of Japanese society.

The Ambassador Designate expressed his desire to cooperate closely with Japanese authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to continue supporting and helping the Vietnamese community in Japan.

Earlier in the same day, Ambassador Designate Pham Quang Hieu had a meeting with Director General of Protocol Department Shimada Takehiro.