Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony, co-organised by theVietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam-Japan FriendshipAssociation (VJFA) and the Foreign Ministry, took place in Hanoi on September 21evening to celebrate five decades of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (September21, 1973 - 2023).

Addressing the event, Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’sSecretariat, Chairwoman of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission,underscored the countries’ people-to-people exchange history spanning over 13 centuriesand 50 years of cooperation and development.

Vietnam and Japan hold a trustworthyand close partnership covering myriad fields from politics, economy, trade,investment to human resources, culture, education, science-technology, andpeople-to-people and locality-to-locality exchanges, she said.   

Mai, also Chairwoman of the Vietnam – Japan FriendshipParliamentarians’ Group, said the growth of the ties reflects their peoples’aspiration for peace, development and prosperity of the two countries, contributing tosimilar progress regionally and globally.

Noting that the 50th anniversary is a favourablepoint for the sides to look to new future prospects, the Party officialaffirmed despite complex developments and fluctuations in the region and theworld, Vietnam always considers Japan an important and long-term partner.

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino, who is on a visit to Vietnamwith his spouse, said there have been lively and dynamic bilateral exchangeactivities taking place, particularly between Vietnamese and Japanese youth andbetween their localities.

He held that the sides’ exchanges have developed steadilyover the years, with their cooperative relationship becoming increasingly deepand extensive in such diverse fields as economy, agriculture, and environment, amongmany others.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio cited the JapanExternal Trade Organization (JETRO)’s latest survey, which shows Vietnam is thesecond most favourite foreign business destination for Japanese firms in thefuture behind the US. Vietnamese is also the second biggest foreign community inJapan considering the numbers of expatriates and students.

The diplomat said young people are active in linking thenations in multiple areas, including IT, high technology, business, and art. The50th anniversary opens up more opportunities for the Vietnam-Japanrelations to grow stronger, he stressed./.