45th year of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic relationship marked

Addressing the ceremony, Pham Minh Chinh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC), Head of the PCC Commission on Organization, and President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, stressed that although Vietnam and Japan officially set up their diplomatic relationship on September 21^st, 1973, the relationship had been built a long time earlier through cultural and trade exchanges. “Since then, the relationship has strongly developed through regular high ranking exchanges, dialogue mechanisms and cooperative activities between Vietnamese and Japanese ministries and localities, as well as people-to-people exchanges,” he said.

According to Mr. Chinh, friendship, sincerity and high political trust are the firm foundation for strict and effective cooperation between the two countries, creating a new driving force for the consistently strong development in all areas and at all levels in building a cooperative, friendly and trusted relationship of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

He added that besides State level and people level diplomacy, the parliamentary relationship between the two countries had continuously reinforced and developed. “The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group was one of the first organizations established in the Vietnamese National Assembly in 1995, being an important bridge for boosting friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries’ localities, Governments, National Assembly,” he went on to say.

Speaking at the ceremony, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio said that the two countries have carried out diverse activities to mark the 45^th year of the Vietnam – Japan diplomatic relationship, including composing a logo for the celebration and the Japan – Vietnam Festival held in Ho Chi Minh city in January. “So far over 120 events have been organized, apart from an additional 50 to be held from now until the end of this year,” he added.

He asserted that Japan and Vietnam not only shared strategic benefit but the two countries’ high ranking leaders and peoples had good affection and strong trust in each other, adding that the relationship is in the best period.

To Huy Rua, former Politburo member, former Secretary of the PCC, former Head of the PCC Commission on Organization, and President of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Organization, said there are currently 260,000 Vietnamese people in Japan, and nearly 20,000 Japanese in Vietnam. Japan has actively helped Vietnam preserve important cultural heritage; provided annual scholarships for Vietnamese students.

In particular, the two countries’ leaders agreed to develop the Vietnam – Japan University into “Harvard of Asia”, the symbol of the cooperative relationship, in order to train talented persons for Vietnam’s national industrialization and modernization, as well as support the development of the two economies. “Thirty seven pairs of Vietnamese and Japanese localities have signed cooperation agreements, creating a firm foundation for cooperation, especially in trade, investment and technology,” said Mr. Rua./.