Vietnamese leaders on February 23 cabled messages of congratulations to their Japanese counterparts on the occasion of Emperor Naruhito’s birthday.

The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

The Japanese Embassy in Vietnam held a reception on February 23 to celebrate the 64th birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other ASEAN leaders met Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko in Tokyo on December 18 within the framework of his trip to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation, and bilateral activities.

Newspapers in Japan on November 28 ran articles on Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong’s official visit, in which they spotlighted the two countries’ upgrade of the bilateral diplomatic ties.

The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) sees the visit to Indonesia by Japan’s Emperor Naruhito “a golden opportunity” to attract Japanese investment into the country.

During his trip to Japan to attend the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVPA).

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his entourage on October 23 concluded the Japan trip to attend the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito.

Vietnam congratulates the royal family and people of Japan on the occasion of the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang on October 17.

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh came to the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi on May 6 to extend congratulations on the occasion of the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito.