(VNF) - On December 13^th, in Hanoi, Chairman of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Association Takaoka Terumi has been awarded with the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) for his dedication to promoting cultural exchange and tourism between Vietnam and Japan.

At the ceremony. (Photo: Quang Viet/VNF)

The insignia is the highest award recognises inpiduals and organisations that have made significant contributions to consolidating and strengthening friendship between the Vietnamese nation and other nations for peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Attending the ceremony were Bui Khac Son, VUFO Vice President; Takaoka Terumi, Chairman of the Japanese Cherry Blossom Association; Nguyen Phu Binh, Vice President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association; Nguyen Tien Dung, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Yen Bai province; and representatives of VUFO.

During a ceremony, VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son expressed hope that the Japanese Cherry Blossom Association will further contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between the two peoples.

In the field of people-to-people diplomacy, Chairman Terumi contributed to the promotion of peace and friendship between the two peoples, especially in promoting cultural exchanges and tourism development. Specifically, in 2014, his Association presented 1,000 cherry blossom trees as a gift to the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, the site of the historic battle against French colonialists on the occasion of the 40^th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations and the 60^th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. This year, the Association has presented 1,000 cherry blossom trees to the northern provinces of Yen Bai and Ha Giang.

VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son grants the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia on Chairman Takaoka Terumi. (Photo: Quang Viet/VNF)

Looking back over the past three years, Chairman Terumi said that in 2017 relations between the two countries are in the best stage ever and achievements of the two countries achieved today by the efforts of the two peoples based on the foundation of faith and sincere sentiments.

He pledged to continue working closely with the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association to boost friendship and all-around collaboration between the two countries, including the annual cherry blossom festival to spread the essence of Japan in general and cherry blossoms in particular to the Vietnamese people./.

Translated by Chau Pham