Bringing Vietnam-Japan relations to a new page in history, with a vision for the next 50 years

On the evening of November 28, in Tokyo, Japan, a ceremony was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. President Vo Van Thuong and his wife Phan Thi Thanh Tam, along with Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the ceremony.

Program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Attending the ceremony, on the Vietnamese side, there was a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation. On the Japanese side, there were also Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Nukaga Fukushirō; leaders of political parties, ministers, members of the National Assembly and governors of provinces.

Not only comprehensive strategic partners , but also friends

In an atmosphere filled with friendship and intimacy, delivering a speech at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his honor and joy that the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations had the presence of President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, Crown Prince Akishino and Princess.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that the development of Vietnam-Japan relations not only brings benefits to the two peoples, but will also contribute to promoting peace, stability and development in Asia and the world.

“More particularly, we are delighted to celebrate together the particularly important step forward in the relationship between the two countries when yesterday (November 27), Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced the upgrading of Vietnam-Japan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world,” said Minister Bui Thanh Son.

The Minister recalled that the relationship between Vietnam and Japan began very early, about 1,300 years ago. After many historical ups and downs, the two countries officially established diplomatic relations, opening a new page in the history of bilateral relations on September 21, 1973.

Since then, after a long journey of half a century, with cultural similarities, the exchange of interests, political trust and especially with the tireless efforts of generations of leaders and people of the two countries, the cooperative and friendly relations between the two countries have developed strongly, substantially, extensively and achieved many important and great achievements in almost all fields.

Political, defense-security, economic, cultural, educational, local-level and people-to-people relations have been strengthened through all channels; developed substantially and increasingly in-depth, becoming solid bridges for the two countries' relationship to develop sustainably and long-term.

“Images of cherry blossoms, kimonos... are becoming increasingly familiar in Vietnam. Conversely, Vietnamese cultural features through the ao dai, lotus images, and favorite Vietnamese dishes such as pho and banh mi... are also gradually becoming familiar in Japan,” Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized.

Not only that, the good relationship between the two countries is also clearly demonstrated when Japanese has been officially taught in Vietnamese junior high and primary schools. The Vietnamese community in Japan is growing stronger with nearly 520,000 people, becoming the second largest foreign community, making a practical contribution to the socio-economic development of Japan.

According to Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, this year, the two countries solemnly celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with nearly 500 rich commemorative activities in both countries and more than 100 delegations of high-ranking leaders and all levels visiting each other, in which the most notable highlights are the official visit to Japan by President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, and the very successful official visit to Vietnam by Crown Prince Akishino and the Princess last September.

“For Vietnam, Japan is not only a leading and long-term comprehensive strategic partner, but also a sincere and trustworthy companion. The development of Vietnam-Japan relations will not only benefit the two peoples, but will also contribute to promoting peace, stability and development in Asia and the world,” Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized.

With the good spirit between the two countries and increasingly close cooperation, the Foreign Minister believes that with the new framework of relations, the relationship between the two countries will enter a new stage of development that is more effective, more substantial and more sustainable.

Solid and lasting cooperation creates a bond of trust and loyalty.

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, in her speech at the ceremony, expressed her joy at meeting President Vo Van Thuong and his wife again in Japan. Ms. Kamikawa Yoko recalled the warm welcome during her visit to Vietnam in early October - one of her first bilateral visits after taking office as Japanese Foreign Minister.

The Japanese Foreign Minister once again affirmed the close cooperation between the two countries in recent times, when Japan and Vietnam have always stood side by side, together building and developing important bilateral relations in various fields. It is these solid and persistent cooperative activities, maintained regularly, that have become the foundation for cooperation between the two countries - as true friends who often help each other in times of difficulty, and that has contributed to the increasingly close relationship and trust between the two countries.

Minister Kamikawa Yoko said that in recent years, the two countries have not only promoted cooperation for peace and stability in the region and the world, but also aimed at maintaining and strengthening a free, open and rule-of-law international order.

President Vo Van Thuong and his wife Phan Thi Thanh Tam, along with Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko attended the ceremony.

In the context of the increasingly complex international situation, the two countries have become important and indispensable partners in the region. Based on the partnership that has been strongly upgraded to a new level, Ms. Kamikawa Yoko expressed Japan's desire to cooperate more closely with Vietnam to bring the bilateral relationship to a new page, especially with a vision for the next 50 years, exchanging young generations and strengthening bilateral relations in new advanced fields is extremely important.

Ms. Kamikawa Yoko said, “The commemorative events that have been taking place in the two countries have helped us feel the deep heart-to-heart connection not only between the Government but also between businesses, scholars and people of the two countries.”

“The successful completion of two important high-level visits, as well as the presence of Crown Prince Akishino and Princess, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife at today's ceremony, have added to the momentum and steadfast belief of the people of the two countries in the development of the good friendship between Japan and Vietnam in the coming time,” Minister Kamikawa Yoko emphasized.

The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Concert Program is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan.

At the ceremony, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Concert took place, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, with performances by artists from the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra and the NHK Symphony Orchestra of Japan and guest artists, conducted by Conductor Honna Tetsuji.

The program opened with a special piece “Song of Songs” composed by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. The piece was accompanied by one of the most outstanding pianists of the era - People's Artist Dang Thai Son of Vietnam on piano, artist Omiya Rintaro of Japan on violin, and performed by a talented Japanese singer - Miura Daichi.

A theme song from a Japanese NHK TV program, aimed at a project to support the recovery of the consequences of the double earthquake and tsunami disaster more than 10 years ago, was also performed in the program with the name "And Flowers Will Bloom", arranged exclusively for the Japanese Koto and Orchestra with the participation of artist Endo Chiaki.

Besides the world's classic melodies performed by artists from the two orchestras, People's Artist Dang Thai Son, known as "the artist loved by Chopin", performed Chopin's smooth melodies and especially moved people with the Vietnamese folk song Trong Com performed with the two countries' orchestras, an emotional ending to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, at the same time opening a new brilliant chapter in the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On this occasion, the Photo Exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations displayed historical milestones in the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan with a photo recording the historical milestone on September 21, 1973, when the two countries signed and exchanged a diplomatic note on the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations. The photo is copyrighted by the former Charge d'Affaires of Japan in Vietnam. Although he has passed away, his family, through the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, provided the photo along with a copy of the diplomatic note given by Vietnam to Japan for display at this Exhibition.

In addition, the Exhibition introduces to viewers photos of high-level visits by the leaders of the two countries, images of Japan's ODA aid for socio-economic development in Vietnam, and images of vibrant people-to-people and cultural and artistic exchanges in Vietnam.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dua-quan-he-viet-nam-nhat-ban-sang-mot-trang-su-moi-voi-tam-nhin-50-nam-tiep-theo-251803.html