Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association (VJFA), theJapan-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam held aceremony to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between thetwo countries in Hanoi on September 18.

Addressingthe event, Politburo member and President of the Vietnam-Japan FriendshipParliamentarians’ Group Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam and Japan establisheddiplomatic ties on September 21, 1973, but their relationship started long agoin history via cultural and commercial exchanges.

Sincethe establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have developed throughregular high-level meetings, dialogue mechanisms, cooperation between ministries,agencies and localities and people-to-people exchange, he said.

Chinhsaid friendship and high political trust have created a firm foundation forcooperation between the two countries, as well as new drivers for the relationsto thrive.

Alongwith state diplomacy and people-to-people exchange, parliamentary diplomacy hasbeen reinforced, Chinh said, noting that the Vietnam-Japan FriendshipParliamentarians’ Group, founded in 1995, has served as a bridge promoting thefriendship and collaboration between localities, Governments and legislatures ofthe two countries.

JapaneseAmbassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio said to mark the 45th anniversaryof diplomatic ties, Japanhas established an organisation committee with the participation of hisembassy, Government agencies, the Japan Business Association in Vietnam and Vietnam-Japan University.

Meanwhile,Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed the building of aplan on holding celebrations in localities, he said, stressing that more than120 events have so far been held in the two countries to mark the anniversary,and more than 50 others are scheduled from now till the end of this year.

Theambassador noted various celebration activities slated for September such as aconcert performed by Japan’s leading symphony orchestra NHK, the Japan-Vietnamfriendship festival and a workshop on Japan’s human resources developmentpolicy during the MeijiRestoration.

Japan-Vietnam relations are at their highestpeak, he said, attributing the result to the close coordination between the twogovernments through cooperation projects in all realms, along withcontributions of many Japanese and Vietnamese individuals and organisations tobilateral cooperation in culture, social affairs, arts and education.

VJFA President To Huy Rua reported that more than260,000 Vietnamese are working, studying and living in Japan and nearly 20,000 Japanese are working in Vietnam.

They are “people’s ambassadors” who havecontributed to enhancing mutual understanding and trust, he said, adding thatup to 37 pairs of Vietnamese and Japanese localities have signed cooperationagreements, creating a foundation for bilateral collaboration, especiallytrade-investment and technology transfer.-VNA