The "heaven-ordained" relationship between Vietnam and Japan will enter a new stage of development, becoming stronger, more connected and more effective.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son made the statement at the ceremony to celebrate the 64th birthday of Emperor Naruhito (February 23, 1960 - February 23, 2024), organized by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the ceremony to celebrate the 64th birthday of Emperor Naruhito (February 23, 1960 - February 23, 2024), organized by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

On the evening of February 23, in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended the ceremony to celebrate the 64th birthday of Emperor Naruhito (February 23, 1960 - February 23, 2024), organized by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. On this occasion, President Vo Van Thuong sent a congratulatory message to Emperor Naruhito, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a congratulatory message to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nukaga Fukishiro and President of the Senate Otsuji Hidehisa. Ms. Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Permanent member of the Secretariat, Head of the Central Organization Commission, Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group sent a congratulatory message to the ceremony. In the message, the Standing Secretary of the Secretariat congratulated the important achievements of the Japanese people in recent years, making Japan a leading developed country in the world. Expressing his joy at the strong, profound and comprehensive development of the Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation in recent times, the Standing Secretary of the Secretariat emphasized that in 2023, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have organized many meaningful activities, especially the upgrading of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. Standing member of the Secretariat Truong Thi Mai believes that with the efforts and determination of both sides, together with the attention and support of the Emperor and the Royal Family of Japan, and the broad support of the people of the two countries, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan will achieve new achievements, becoming more and more substantive and effective, meeting the interests and development of each country with the common goal of peace, stability 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 sent to the Japanese Ambassador and his wife, and through the Ambassador, to the Emperor, the Queen, the Royal Family, the Government and people of Japan his warmest congratulations. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son assessed that Vietnam and Japan have just gone through an emotional year 2023, the year of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations with the exchange of about 150 delegations of high-ranking leaders and leaders of ministries, branches and localities at all levels of the two countries and more than 500 large-scale and meaningful commemorative activities in both countries. 2023 is also a pivotal year, opening a new chapter in the Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation with the agreement of the two countries' senior leaders to upgrade bilateral relations to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World". "It can be said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is a typical pair of relationships for the success of Vietnam's bilateral cooperation with its partners," said Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation have been "hand in hand", entering a new chapter in the bilateral relationship with "limitless" development potential. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Japan maintains its position as Vietnam's leading important partner as the largest ODA aid partner, the second largest partner in labor cooperation, the third largest in investment and tourism, and the fourth largest in trade. Cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education-training, culture, people-to-people exchange, etc. is strongly and actively promoted. Local cooperation is a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries with more than 100 pairs of localities having cooperation agreements. The community of about 520,000 Vietnamese people in Japan is the second largest foreign community in Japan, along with more than 2,500 Japanese enterprises in Vietnam, actively contributing to the development of substantive and comprehensive relations between the two countries. According to Minister Bui Thanh Son, at international and regional forums such as the United Nations, regional cooperation mechanisms such as APEC, ASEM, as well as the ASEAN cooperation mechanism, Vietnam and Japan cooperate closely and actively coordinate on international and regional issues of mutual concern. With the foundation of political trust, cultural similarities, historical ties built and nurtured over more than 1,300 years since the 8th century, more than half a century of cooperation and development, the Vietnam-Japan friendship and cooperation have been "hand in hand", entering a new chapter of the two countries' relations with "limitless" development potential, Minister Bui Thanh Son said. On the basis of the new cooperation framework, with the spirit of ensuring equal interests of both sides, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the leaders and people of the two countries are determined to strongly and more substantially develop the relationship between the two countries in traditional fields such as economics, politics, culture, education-training, labor, people-to-people exchange, local cooperation, etc. At the same time, the two sides will expand to new important fields, in line with the trend of the times such as emission reduction, semiconductors, clean energy, digital transformation, green transformation, etc., further strengthening cooperation in regional and international issues, in forums, international organizations and cooperation mechanisms of which the two countries are members. The continuous strong development of Vietnam-Japan relations is becoming a bright spot in international relations, especially in the context of the world and the region facing many rapid, complex and fundamental changes.

Delegates attending the ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Minister Bui Thanh Son believes that the "heaven-ordained" relationship between the two countries and peoples of Vietnam and Japan will continue to overcome all challenges, seize opportunities, and move forward on a new path of development, becoming stronger, more connected and more effective, meeting the aspirations and interests of the people of the two countries, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said that the close development of the Vietnam-Japan relationship today is not only for economic and political benefits, but also based on the "understanding and empathy" between the two countries formed by cultural and historical exchanges from ancient times. The Ambassador expressed his belief that further strengthening the bond between the people of the two countries is a solid stepping stone to promote the breakthrough development of the relationship between the two countries in the coming time. In the economic field, the Ambassador said that in the context of the shift in global supply chains and scientific innovations such as digital transformation and green transformation, the Vietnam-Japan partnership will become increasingly important.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

According to the Ambassador, the latest survey results of JETRO show that Vietnam is the second most attractive investment destination for Japanese enterprises in the world, after the United States. Moreover, nearly 60% of the total number of Japanese enterprises intend to expand their investment in Vietnam. Last December, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio agreed that strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the economic sector is an indispensable driving force to further deepen the Vietnam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership. Regarding ODA, the two Prime Ministers affirmed that they will further strengthen bilateral cooperation to revive Japan's ODA and promote large-scale, high-quality infrastructure development projects in Vietnam. Regarding labor cooperation, the Ambassador said that Vietnam accounts for about a quarter of the total number of foreign workers working in Japan, playing a very important role in the development of the two countries' economies. * On this occasion, on behalf of the Japanese Government, Ambassador Yamada Takio awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, with gold and silver stars, to Mr. Doan Xuan Hung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, for his important contributions in promoting the strong development of bilateral relations during the 2011-2015 period, in which the two countries upgraded their relationship to "Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia" in 2014.

On behalf of the Japanese Government, Ambassador Yamada Takio presented the Order of the Rising Sun, with gold and silver stars, to Mr. Doan Xuan Hung, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

(Photo: Tuan Anh)

Delegates attending the ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and delegates attending the ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Ambassadors at the ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh and his wife (left) and Editor-in-Chief of The Gioi va Viet Nam newspaper Nguyen Truong Son. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio and delegates. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

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