President Vo Van Thuong and his wife met with Japanese homestay families

Japanese homestay families were impressed because even though many years have passed, the President still holds good memories with everyone.

President Vo Van Thuong met with Japanese homestay families who had hosted Vietnamese youth through Vietnam-Japan youth exchange programs. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

On the morning of November 29, in 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 homestay families who had welcomed Vietnamese youth through Vietnam-Japan youth exchange programs.

The meeting was attended by homestay families from many localities across Japan; including the family of Mr. Sato Shigemitsu and Ms. Sato Ikuko (Akita province); the family of Mr. Nagai Atsuo and Ms. Nagai Yuko (Miyazaki province).

These are homestay families where many years ago, the President stayed, worked, and had cultural exchanges while participating in youth exchange activities between the two countries.

Also attending were representatives of Japanese agencies and organizations such as JICA, JICE, DAY... which are units coordinating with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to organize exchange activities for the young generations of the two countries.

During his time working 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 at a number of homestay families in many localities of Japan.

These are homestay families where many years ago, the President stayed, worked, and had cultural exchanges while participating in youth exchange activities between the two countries (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Delighted to meet again the coordinating organizations and families during his first official visit to Japan as President, President Vo Van Thuong was moved to recall many memories and deep impressions during his stay, living and working with homestay families and Japanese youth in the past. Especially the stories and images of Japanese homestay families introducing and guiding Vietnamese youth about the traditional culture and folklore of the Land of the Rising Sun through daily activities such as cooking, gardening, farming, performing arts, community activities, etc.

The President warmly visited each member of the former homestay families; he was pleased that the families had good impressions and actively supported the youth exchange program between the two countries. The President emphasized that these friendly activities have left deep impressions and memories, helping Vietnamese youth to increase their understanding and love for the country and people of Japan, who are friendly, affectionate, sincere, thoughtful and hospitable.

On this occasion, President Vo Van Thuong also thanked the organizations: JICA, JICE, DAY... and the units that have actively coordinated with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to organize many exciting, practical and useful people-to-people exchange activities and youth exchanges between Vietnam and Japan in recent times; making an important contribution to maintaining, preserving and promoting the traditional friendship between the people of the two countries.

Expressing joy, emotion and surprise at being invited to meet and have breakfast with President Vo Van Thuong in Tokyo during his official visit to Japan as the Head of State of Vietnam, the Japanese homestay families were impressed because even though many years have passed, the President still holds good memories with them.

Congratulating the success of President Vo Van Thuong's official visit to Japan, the homestay families also shared their impressions and good memories of Vietnamese youth - intelligent, friendly and hard-working people; 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.

The President warmly visited each member of the former homestay families. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Representatives of JICA and other organizations sincerely thanked President Vo Van Thuong for taking the time to meet with him; were delighted and highly appreciated the particularly important results and historical marks of the President's official visit to Japan this time.

Referring to the significance and practical results from 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 that the two countries' Senior Leaders have just established.

Appreciating the support and coordination of Japanese homestay families and organizations in cooperation and youth exchange activities between the two countries, the President emphasized the important significance of this visit. The two countries' senior leaders agreed to elevate the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This is the foundation and important premise to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation; especially expanding and promoting people-to-people exchange activities in general; including Vietnam-Japan youth exchange programs.

The President hopes that in the coming time, agencies, organizations, localities and Japanese homestay 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 cooperative activities between Vietnamese and Japanese youth, bringing more profound meanings and fostering the good feelings of the people and young generations of the two countries.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-vo-van-thuong-va-phu-nhan-gap-go-than-mat-cac-gia-dinh-homestay-nhat-ban-251660.html