President meets families participating in the Vietnam

According to the special correspondent of VNA, on the morning of November 29, in the capital Tokyo, on the occasion of his official visit to Japan, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife had a friendly meeting and had breakfast with Japanese families who had welcomed Vietnamese youth through Vietnam - Japan youth exchange programs.

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President Vo Van Thuong and his wife met with representatives of families participating in the Vietnam-Japan Youth Exchange Program. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The meeting was attended by families from many localities in Japan; including the families of Mr. Sato Shigemitsu and Mrs. Sato Ikuko (Akita province); Mr. Nagai Atsuo and Mrs. Nagai Yuko (Miyazaki province). Many years ago, these families welcomed a number of Vietnamese youths, including President Vo Van Thuong, to stay and exchange in youth cooperation activities between the two countries. Also attending were representatives of a number of Japanese organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), the Japan Youth Leadership Development Organization (DAY) ... in coordination with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) to organize cooperation activities and exchange between the two countries' young generations.

During his years of working as a youth at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and the Central Youth Union, President Vo Van Thuong participated in a number of youth exchange programs in Japan such as: Youth Friendship Program for the 21st Century; ASEAN - Japan Youth Friendship Program in 1997 (now the Knowledge Co-Creation Program for Young Leaders - KCCP); Pan-Pacific Youth Exchange Program in 2004 and Japan - East Asia Youth and Student Exchange Program (JENESYS) in 2011. Within the framework of these friendship activities, the President and youth union members of the two countries lived, worked, stayed and exchanged culture with a number of families in many localities of the "land of cherry blossoms".

Delighted to meet his old relatives during his first official visit to Japan as a State leader, President Vo Van Thuong was moved to recall many memories and unforgettable impressions of his youth when he stayed, lived and worked with Japanese families and youths in the past. The President recalled stories and images of Japanese family members enthusiastically introducing and guiding Vietnamese youths about traditional culture, folk culture and daily life of Japanese rural families through daily activities such as cooking, gardening, farming, performing traditional arts, community activities, etc.

Visiting each member of the former close family, the President was pleased that the family members still kept memories of the Vietnamese youth and actively supported the youth exchange program between the two countries. The President said that these practical and meaningful friendly exchange activities have left many unforgettable impressions, helping each Vietnamese youth to increase their understanding and love for the beautiful country of Japan, rich in traditional culture; the Japanese people are friendly, affectionate, sincere, thoughtful and hospitable.

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President Vo Van Thuong and his wife had a friendly meeting and breakfast with families participating in the Vietnam-Japan Youth Exchange Program. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

President Vo Van Thuong also thanked the organizations: JICA, JICE, DAY... and the units that actively coordinated with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to organize exchange activities in the two countries; making an important contribution to maintaining, preserving and promoting the traditional friendship and cultural exchange between the people of Vietnam and Japan.

Expressing their joy, emotion and surprise at being invited to meet and have breakfast with President Vo Van Thuong and his wife in Tokyo during his official visit to Japan as President, the Japanese families were very impressed because although many years have passed, the President still retains memories of his youth when he lived, stayed and worked with his family. Congratulating the achievements of the past 50 years in the Vietnam - Japan cooperation relationship, the families also shared their good impressions and memories of Vietnamese youth, who are intelligent, friendly and hard-working; at the same time, they hope and wish that in the future, they will continue to welcome more Vietnamese youth delegations to Japan to participate in youth cooperation activities between the two countries and cultural exchanges with local people.

Representatives of JICA and organizations respectfully thanked President Vo Van Thuong for taking the time to meet; were pleased and highly appreciated the results of the President's visit to Japan this time. Referring to the significance and practical results brought about by the cooperation activities between the youth of the two countries in recent years, representatives of JICA and organizations attending the meeting said that in the coming time, they will further strengthen support activities, coordinate with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to implement more projects to promote cultural exchange, people-to-people exchange and youth exchange between Vietnam and Japan commensurate with the stature of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Appreciating the support and coordination of families who have hosted Vietnamese youth and Japanese organizations in cooperation and youth exchange activities between the two countries, President Vo Van Thuong said that the two countries' upgrading of relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is an opportunity to expand and promote people-to-people exchange activities in general; including Vietnam-Japan youth exchange programs. The President hopes that in the coming time, Japanese agencies, organizations, localities and families will continue to closely and effectively coordinate with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and relevant agencies of Vietnam to organize more cooperation activities between Vietnamese and Japanese youth, constantly fostering the good feelings of the people and young generations of the two countries.

According to VNA

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