Tokyo (VNA) – A seminar spotlighting the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh was held on May 15 in Mimasaka city, Okayama prefecture, where the statue “Ho Chi Minh Reading a Newspaper” – the first of its kind in Japan – was placed.

The event was co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Consulates General of Vietnam in Osaka and Fukuoka, and the Mimasaka administration. It aimed to honour the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh while strengthening solidarity among the Vietnamese community in Japan and inspiring their patriotism and national pride.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu stressed that the seminar was a meaningful activity in celebration of the 135th birth anniversary of the late leader – the great father of the Vietnamese nation, a brilliant leader, a revered teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, a hero of national liberation, a great man of culture, a distinguished communist, and a close friend of peace-loving and progressive peoples around the world.

Hieu noted that among the valuable legacies of President Ho Chi Minh, his emphasis on solidarity and international cooperation remains deeply relevant to Vietnam’s current efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Upholding his will, the entire Party and people continue to strive for a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic, and prosperous Vietnam, contributing to the global revolutionary cause.

The diplomat highlighted that 50 years since national reunification and nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal), Vietnam has overcome numerous challenges to achieve historic accomplishments, securing a strong stature in the world.

As part of the nationwide celebrations of the President's 135th birth anniversary, the seminar served as a tribute to his monumental contributions to the Vietnamese revolution and also as a call for action among Party members, overseas Vietnamese, and diplomatic missions in Japan to carry forward his aspirations, Hieu said.

Mimasaka Mayor Hagiwara Seiji expressed the city’s pride in hosting the seminar, noting the honour of being the 18th location in the world to receive a statue of President Ho Chi Minh presented by the Vietnamese Government. Since then, Mimasaka has welcomed many visitors from both countries, symbolising the growing friendship between Japan and Vietnam.

At the event, Vietnamese diplomats, community leaders, and Japanese friends highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s lasting influence on Vietnam’s development and global ties.

Speakers underscored his guiding ideology, emphasis on unity, and vision for a people-centred and progressive nation. They called on the overseas Vietnamese, especially the 600,000-strong community in Japan, to uphold his legacy through patriotism, innovation, and deeper Vietnam – Japan friendship.

ܫ Earlier, the delegates paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh Space located within the Vietnam Cultural Centre in Mimasaka./.