Friendship association marks Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties

The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association (VJFA), the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in Hanoi on September 18.

Addressing the event, Politburo member and President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic ties on September 21, 1973, but their relationship started long ago in history via cultural and commercial exchanges.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have developed through regular high-level meetings, dialogue mechanisms, cooperation between ministries, agencies and localities and people-to-people exchange, he said.

Chinh said friendship and high political trust have created a firm foundation for cooperation between the two countries, as well as new drivers for the relations to thrive.

Along with state diplomacy and people-to-people exchange, parliamentary diplomacy has been reinforced, Chinh said, noting that the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, founded in 1995, has served as a bridge promoting the friendship and collaboration between localities, Governments and legislatures of the two countries.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio said to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Japan has established an organisation committee with the participation of his embassy, Government agencies, the Japan Business Association in Vietnam and Vietnam-Japan University.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed the building of a plan on holding celebrations in localities, he said, stressing that more than 120 events have so far been held in the two countries to mark the anniversary, and more than 50 others are scheduled from now till the end of this year.

The ambassador noted various celebration activities slated for September such as a concert performed by Japan’s leading symphony orchestra NHK, the Japan-Vietnam friendship festival and a workshop on Japan’s human resources development policy during the Meiji Restoration.

Japan-Vietnam relations are at their highest peak, he said, attributing the result to the close coordination between the two governments through cooperation projects in all realms, along with contributions of many Japanese and Vietnamese individuals and organisations to bilateral cooperation in culture, social affairs, arts and education.

VJFA President To Huy Rua reported that more than 260,000 Vietnamese are working, studying and living in Japan and nearly 20,000 Japanese are working in Vietnam.

They are “people’s ambassadors” who have contributed to enhancing mutual understanding and trust, he said, adding that up to 37 pairs of Vietnamese and Japanese localities have signed cooperation agreements, creating a foundation for bilateral collaboration, especially trade-investment and technology transfer.