Japanese city Governor presented Vietnam’s Friendship Medal

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Vu Hong Nam expressed his thanks to Mr. Seiji Hagiwara for his work for the development of the Vietnam-Japan friendship.

For his part, Mr. Hagiwara thanked the State of Vietnam for the noble award presented. He shared his impression of the Vietnam War and what the Vietnamese did in this war.

In the 1990s, when Vietnam was still in difficulties, Vietnam - Japan relations did not really have many development opportunities like today. At that time, he thought he had to do something to make the relationship between the two countries more developed. That was why he tried to advocate for the resumption of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam. And later, the relationship between the two countries really developed in many areas.

Mr. Hagiwara also expressed his hope that the Japan-Vietnam relationship will continue to develop stronger in the future.

Born in 1956, Mr. Hagiwara worked at Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) from 1980 to 1998, during which he actively lobbied the Japanese Government to resume the provision of ODA to Vietnam.

Since becoming the Governor of Mimasaka in 2018, he has made great contributions for the growth of the ties between the city as well as Japan and Vietnam, including his encouragement of Mimasaka people to place a copper statute of President Ho Chi Minh at the city museum to honour the beloved leader of the Vietnamese people; promotion of policies attracting foreigners, including Vietnamese people, to Mimasaka for studying and working; support of Vietnamese women football team for regular training courses at Mimasaka; and encouragement for the signing of a memorandum of understanding on promoting friendly and cooperative relationship with Yen Bai province in November 2019./.