Attending the ceremony were: former President Truong Tan Sang, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu, and Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai.
Representing Japan were Mr. Yamada Takio, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam; Mr. Tsutomu Takabe, former Member of the House of Representatives, Honorary Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 9th Vietnam-Japan Festival, and Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance; and Ms. Hashimoto Seiko, Member of the Senate, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 9th Vietnam-Japan Festival.
Delegates attending the opening ceremony "hold hands tightly" (photo: thanhuytphcm.vn)
Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang expressed that the "9th Vietnam-Japan Festival" is being held on a very special occasion, as the two countries have just gone through a year full of important events in 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and are entering 2024 - the first year of implementing the framework of the Vietnam-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The festival reflects the shared aspirations of the leaders and people of both countries to further strengthen friendship and cooperation, to work together to build a better future for both nations, and to make positive contributions to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world .
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence that the festival would attract widespread participation from people of both countries, offering diverse experiences about the land, people, exquisite culinary arts, and traditional cultural beauty of each nation.
The festival continues to serve as a bridge of friendship, strengthening the sincere bond and mutual trust between the people of the two countries, and promoting multifaceted cooperation and exchange between Vietnam and Japan.
At the same time, it makes a practical contribution to further deepening the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World," not only in areas of economic cooperation, trade, tourism, labor, etc., but also expanding to new areas such as environment, digital transformation, green transformation, high technology, etc.
At the ceremony, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai welcomed and appreciated the joint efforts of the Festival Organizing Committee, colleagues, and friends from Japan and Vietnam who have together organized the Vietnam-Japan Festival series over the years with an increasingly expanding scale and diverse forms.
The Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City expressed his hope that this year's festival would add a unique highlight to the close relationship between the two countries, creating a bridge to broaden understanding and strengthen friendship between the two nations, so that the two countries can "hold hands tightly from now on".
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam, Yamada Takio, shared that there is a connection between the people of Japan and the people of Vietnam based on "understanding and empathy," nurtured by a long-standing historical and cultural relationship. Through activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, this bond has become even deeper and stronger.
As 2024 marks the 51st anniversary of diplomatic relations and serves as a year to further accelerate the development of bilateral relations, Mr. Yamada Takio hopes that the year will see significant progress in the substantive and effective development of Japan-Vietnam relations, befitting the title of "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership".
2023 marked a milestone in the relationship between Vietnam and Japan with the agreement to upgrade their bilateral relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World".
In 2023, Vietnam and Japan successfully celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Throughout history, Vietnam and Japan have shared many cultural similarities, which has fostered a continuously developing relationship and elevated it to a new level. In particular, cooperation in economics, culture, sports, and tourism between Vietnam and Japan has yielded many positive results, contributing significantly to the development of cooperative relations and friendship between the people of the two countries.
It can be said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is a prime example of effective and sincere cooperation, with extremely broad potential and prospects.
Continuing and building upon this traditional value, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Japanese Organizing Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Festival are co-organizing the "9th Vietnam-Japan Festival". The festival is an annual cultural and diplomatic event of the city aimed at further affirming the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" between the two countries, strengthening cultural exchanges, contributing to promoting trade, investment, and tourism, and enhancing friendship and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.
The 9th Vietnam-Japan Festival in Ho Chi Minh City will take place from March 9-10 with activities including: a trade, culinary, and tourism exchange program; promotion of Vietnamese and Japanese products; and a cultural and artistic exchange program between Vietnam and Japan, held over two days and two nights, from March 9-10 at 23/9 Park; and a seminar and trade talks to promote Japanese tourism in Vietnam.
The 9th Vietnam-Japan Festival in 2024, imbued with the rich and diverse national cultures of Vietnam and Japan, is an opportunity to further strengthen the spirit of friendship between the two countries. The festival has deepened the cooperative relationship between the two nations, ushering in a new era of stronger and broader development, meeting the common needs and interests of both countries and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.
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