Overview of press conference (Photo: VNA)
At the press conference, Deputy Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Truong Son highlighted the significance of the festival, emphasizing that it is not only an important channel to help people of the two countries to increase mutual understanding, but also a bridge to connect overseas Vietnamese people to unite and love each other.
He stressed that Vietnam - Japan ties are developing well in the spirit of deep, trusting and mutual understanding strategic partners. The Vietnam Festival in Japan has become an annual cultural exchange activity, attracting a large number of Japanese people and the overseas Vietnamese community to attend.
Through an art program, cuisine, handicrafts and exhibition, images of the country and people, culture and history of Vietnam will be introduced to Japanese friends, in order to strengthen solidarity and friendship, mutual understanding between the two countries, as well as building the foundation and complementing other cooperative fields to develop.
Mr. Nguyen Truong Son highly appreciated the efforts of the organizing board, individuals and units of the two countries for the successful previous festivals and hoped that the Vietnam Festival 2017 will continue to be successful, significantly contributing to the close relationship between the governments and people of the two countries.
Secretary General of the organizing board Aoyagi Youichirou also highlighted the significance of the festival in promoting exchanges between the two peoples. He affirmed that through the Vietnam Festival 2017, the two peoples will enhance mutual understanding, making the friendship and cooperation more and more developed.
This year's festival will have more than 100 booths, including about 60 food booths and the remaining are souvenir and exhibition booths. Around 150,000 visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine, and cultural, music and art programs imbued with Vietnamese national identity.
The main stage will feature performance by Japanese artists, the Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Japan and Vietnamese pop singers, art troupes sent by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The first ever Vietnam Festival in Japan was held in 2008 to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan./.