Reception celebrating Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday in Hanoi
WVR - On the evening of February 23, in Hanoi, the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam held a reception to celebrate the 64th birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito (February 23, 1960 - 2024).
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| On the evening of February 23, in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended the reception celebrating the 64th birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito (February 23, 1960 - 2024), hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
The event saw the attendance of Politburo member, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, representatives from ministries, sectors and international organisations in Vietnam, and Japanese citizens in Hanoi.
Delivering a message of congratulations at the ceremony, Politburo Mai, who is also Chairwoman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, congratulated the Japanese people on the important achievements that they have attained over the past years, making Japan a leading developed country in the world.
She expressed her delight over the strong and comprehensive development of the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan for years, and highlighted the celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations with various activities, and particularly the upgrade of their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world in 2023.
She said she believes that with efforts and resolve from the two countries, together with the support of the Japanese Emperor and royal family, the Vietnam – Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will further develop in a more practical and effective fashion to meet the interest and development in each country, and for peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
At the ceremony, on behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also conveyed the warmest congratulations to the Ambassador of Japan and his Spouse, and through the Ambassador, to the Emperor, Empress, Royal Family, Government, and people of Japan.
Foreign Minister Son emphasized that Vietnam and Japan have just gone through an emotional year of 2023, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan with the exchange of about 150 high-level delegations and leaders of ministries, sectors, and localities of both countries, along with over 500 commemorative activities in both countries.
2023 also marked the milestone year, opening a new chapter in the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan, as the top leaders of both countries agreed to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World."
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks at the reception. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
"It can be said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is a typical example of Vietnam's successful bilateral cooperation with its partners," Minister Son reiterated.
Japan maintains its position as Vietnam's leading important partner as the largest ODA donor, the second-largest partner in labour cooperation, the third in investment and tourism, and the fourth in trade.
Cooperation between the two countries in education and training, culture, people-to-people exchanges, etc., has been strongly and actively promoted. Local cooperation is a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries, with over 100 pairs of localities having cooperation agreements.
The community of around 520,000 Vietnamese people in Japan is the second-largest foreign community in Japan, along with over 2,500 Japanese businesses in Vietnam actively contributing to the substantial and comprehensive development of the relationship between the two countries.
According to Minister Son, at international and regional forums such as the United Nations, regional cooperation mechanisms like APEC, ASEM, as well as ASEAN cooperation mechanisms, Vietnam and Japan closely cooperate and actively coordinate on international and regional issues of mutual concern. With a foundation of political trust, cultural similarities, and historical connections built and nurtured over more than 1,300 years since the 8th century, over half a century of cooperation and joint development, the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Japan have been and are "hand in hand," stepping into a new chapter of bilateral relations with "infinite" development potential, Minister Bui Thanh Son stated.
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| Participants an the reception. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Based on the framework of the new cooperation, with the spirit of ensuring the equal interests of both sides, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed the determination of the leadership and people of both countries to further develop the relationship between the two countries in traditional areas such as economy, politics, culture, education and training, labour, people-to-people exchanges, and local cooperation, in a more substantial manner.
At the same time, both sides are expanding into new important areas, in line with the trends of the times such as emissions reduction, semiconductors, clean energy, digital transformation, green transformation, etc., further enhancing cooperation in regional and international issues, across forums, international organizations, and cooperation mechanisms of which both countries are members. The relentless development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship is becoming a bright spot in international relations, especially in the context where the world and the region are facing numerous rapid and complex changes, fundamentally altering the landscape.
Minister Son expressed his confidence that the "destined affinity" between the two countries, the two Vietnamese and Japanese peoples, will continue to overcome all challenges, seize opportunities, embark on a new, firm, cohesive, and more effective development path, meeting the aspirations and interests of the peoples of both countries, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
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| Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio speaks at the reception. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
In his part, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio stated that the current close development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship is not only for economic and political interests but also based on "understanding and empathy" between the two countries, formed by cultural and historical exchanges since ancient times.
The Japanese Ambassador expressed confidence that further strengthening the bond between the peoples of the two countries is a solid step towards promoting breakthrough development in the bilateral relationship in the future. Regarding the economic sector, the Japanese Ambassador believes that as global supply chain shifts and scientific innovations such as digital and green transformations become stronger, the Vietnam-Japan partnership will become increasingly important.
According to the Japanese Ambassador, the latest survey results from JETRO show that Vietnam is the second most attractive investment destination for Japanese businesses in the world, after the United States. Furthermore, nearly 60% of Japanese companies intend to expand their investment in Vietnam.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Japanese Ambassador Yamada Takio have a toast. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Last December, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio agreed to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the economic sector as an indispensable driving force to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan, Ambassador Yamada Takio stressed.
Regarding ODA, the two Prime Ministers affirmed their commitment to further enhance bilateral cooperation to revitalize Japan's ODA and promote large-scale, high-quality infrastructure development projects in Vietnam.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and other participants at the reception. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Regarding labour cooperation, the Japanese Ambassador noted that Vietnam accounts for about a quarter of the total foreign workers in Japan, playing a significant role in the economic development of both countries.
On this occasion, on behalf of the Japanese Government, Ambassador Yamada Takio awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, with a gold and silver star, to Mr. Doan Xuan Hung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, for his significant contributions to promoting strong development in the bilateral relationship during the period 2011-2015, during which the two countries upgraded Vietnam-Japan relationship to a "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" in 2014.
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| On this occasion, on behalf of the Japanese Government, Ambassador Yamada Takio awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, with a gold and silver star, to Mr. Doan Xuan Hung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
