Passing on the love to the next generations

I feel very honored to be able to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations with the Vietnamese people.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Nikai Toshihiro and a delegation of Japanese parliamentarians, local leaders and leaders of economic organizations visiting and working in Vietnam on May 5, 2023.

The Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Union was established on May 25, 1978 with the aim of promoting cooperation to rebuild and develop Vietnam. Through the activities of the Friendship Parliamentary Union

Japan - Vietnam Over the past half century, the friendly sentiment with Vietnam has taken root and developed deeply, surpassing the boundaries of political parties.

In January 2020, I led a delegation of 1,000 people including Japanese parliamentarians, governors, and businesses to visit Da Nang. In May 2023, we also visited Hanoi and Thanh Hoa province - the hometown of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

I achieved two things through these visits.

Firstly, through exchanging ideas with the Vietnamese side, I feel that the two countries need each other. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh always affirms that the Vietnam-Japan relationship is built on “sincerity”, “affection” and “trust”. Indeed, over a long period of time, the friendly relationship between the two sides has been nurtured thanks to the heart-to-heart exchanges between the people of the two countries.

Second, we pledged to the Vietnamese leaders to join efforts, especially to promote exchanges between the two countries' youths - who will shoulder the burden of the next generation to continue maintaining the Japan-Vietnam friendship.

Vietnam in 50, 100 years. I firmly believe that the young people who shoulder the future of Vietnam all have the tenacity of their predecessors – those who overcame the war, becoming a strong driving force to help Vietnam and the Japan-Vietnam relationship develop further.

On May 5, 2023, Chairwoman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group Truong Thi Mai and Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Union Nikai Toshihiro performed the Oga lotus planting ceremony at the National Assembly House. (Photo: Quochoi.vn)

Up to now, I have always tried to promote the friendly relations between the two countries through lotus diplomacy. In May this year, during my visit to Hanoi, I joined Ms. Truong Thi Mai, Chairwoman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, and representatives of the parliamentarian alliance of the two countries in the Oga lotus planting ceremony.

The lotus is the national flower of Vietnam, a symbol of peace. As a testament to the friendship between Japan and Vietnam, the tree planting ceremony was held with the wish that the friendship between Japan and Vietnam will last forever. I hope that the Oga lotus will be planted and cared for by the Vietnamese people with all their hearts to bloom into large flowers and hope that the friendly relationship between the two countries will last forever.

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges, especially those between young people - those responsible for the future of the two countries - play an important role.

Both sides need to understand, respect each other, and understand each other's country. I hope that students will have study trips to Vietnam.

Japan and the exchange program between high school students of the two countries will promote human exchange activities, especially among young people.

I believe and hope that the friendly relationship between the two countries, which has been built thanks to the tireless efforts of our predecessors over more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations in September 1973, will continue to be passed on to future generations.

---

* The article was published in "Special issue 50 years of Vietnam - Japan relations: Reaching new heights" of The Gioi & Viet Nam Newspaper, released in October 2023

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-nhat-ban-trao-truyen-moi-tham-tinh-cho-cac-the-he-sau-251733.html