Hanoi (VNA) – Cultural exchange activities play an important role in boostingVietnam-Japan relations, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Special Advisorto the Japanese Cabinet Isao Iijima.

Duringa reception for Iijima in Hanoi on March 23, PM Phuc said he was pleased tomeet the Japanese advisor again when the bilateral relations are flourishingwith high political trust. Vietnam and Japan have maintained regular high-levelmeetings and fostered cooperation in all fields, he said.

Japanis currently the biggest provider of ODA, second biggest foreign investor andfourth biggest trade partner of Vietnam, PM Phuc said, noting that in 2017alone, Japan poured a record amount of 9.11 billion USD in FDI into Vietnam, rankingfirst among countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

ThePM expects that Japan will continue taking the lead in terms of FDI from now on,particularly in the areas of supporting industry, manufacturing, renewableenergy and hi-tech agriculture.

Hespoke highly of Japan’s Sakura Blossom Festival which is being organised inVietnam to mark the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties,saying such cultural exchange activities play a significant role in enhancingthe bilateral relationship.

Iijimsaid the festival is a significant event, helping to promote cultural exchangesbetween the two countries. Japan has a sakura association and wants to grow theflowers in many other countries around the world, including Vietnam, he said.

Theadvisor hoped that there will be more Japanese sakura and Vietnamese apricotblossom festivals to promote cultural exchanges between the two nations, pavingthe way for expanded cooperation in other fields.

Echoinghis guest’s view, PM Phuc said he also wants the sakura blossom festival willcontinue to be held in Vietnam on a larger scale and looks forward to morecultural festivals which will bring Japanese culture closer to Vietnamesepeople.

Some 50 sakura trees of different species, above2.5m high each, and 10,000 branches of sakura blossoms are on display at LyThai To Park by Hoan Kiem Lake, downtown Hanoi as part of the 2018Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival.

The festival include various culturalactivities, such as the introduction of the Japanese tea culture, chess,Kendama folk games and Japanese cuisine near Hanoi Children’s Palace, besides aYosakoi dance performance by 17 teams on Dinh Tien Hoang street.

The event, which will run until March 26,will also host various Vietnamese traditional arts such as ca tru(ceremonialsinging), hat xam (blind busker’s singing) and folk dances.-VNA