Ho Chi Minh City accelerates cultural and sports cooperation with Japan

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan meets Mr. Komura Masahiko (Source: thanhuytphcm.vn)

At the meeting, Vo Van Hoan warmly welcomed Mr. Komura Masahiko back to Ho Chi Minh City at a meaningful time, as Vietnam and Japan are about to conclude the first year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan highlighted the strengthening ties between Vietnam and Japan, especially since the two nations upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and globally in November 2023.

He emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City, as a prominent urban center in Vietnam, actively pioneers foreign relations and international integration efforts, with partnerships in 57 localities globally, including six in Japan. In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City and Japanese localities have organized many cultural and economic exchange activities.

On behalf of the city’s leadership, Vo Van Hoan expressed his gratitude to Mr. Komura Masahiko, Nippon Budokan and the Japan Budo Association for selecting Ho Chi Minh City to host the first Japanese Martial Arts Demonstration Festival, adding to the lively first year of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. The event also offered residents the opportunity to experience Japan’s martial arts and culture.

Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan stated that Ho Chi Minh City aims to make the Vietnam-Japan Festival an annual event to be held alternately in Ho Chi Minh City and Japan. This series of cultural exchanges, organized in cooperation over the past 11 years in Ho Chi Minh City, is of great significance to bilateral relations.

He expressed hope that Mr. Komura Masahiko would support and help realize this vision, while also considering the possibility of aligning future Martial Arts Demonstration Festivals with the Vietnam-Japan Festival to enhance organization and strengthen ties between Ho Chi Minh City and Japan, and more broadly, between Vietnam and Japan.

Mr. Komura Masahiko thanked Ho Chi Minh City for its support in organizing the Japanese Martial Arts Demonstration Festival, held on November 10. The event contributed to the friendship between the two nations by showcasing both modern and traditional Japanese martial arts. He hoped for continued cooperation in hosting cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen the bond between Japan and Ho Chi Minh City, and between Japan and Vietnam./.