At the host of meetings with Hidehisa Otsuji. Photo: VOV

These comments came as Mai led a CPV delegation on a working visit to Japan from September 9 to September 12, during which she outlined how the country is keen to work alongside Japan to further deepen bilateral relations.

During the visit, the delegation held a broad range of exchange activities with Japanese officials, including a host of meetings with Hidehisa Otsuji, President of the House of Councilors, Toshihiro Nikai, president of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, Tsutomu Takebe, special advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance.

Meeting Toshihiro Nikai, president of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance. Photo: VOV

They also visited Hokkaido where over 10,000 Vietnamese people live and work and attended a Vietnam festival in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido Prefecture, to meet with the Governor of Hokkaido Naomichi Suzuki and representatives of the Hokkaido-Vietnam Friendship Association. During the course of the meetings, Mai conveyed greetings from Party, State, and NA leaders, expressing her pleasure at visiting Japan while both nations looking forward to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.

Mai and her delegation also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan where they learned about the lives of officials of representative agencies, as well as the Vietnamese community residing in Japan.

Truong Thi Mai and delegates visit booth of Quang Ninh province at the Vietnam festival in Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido Prefecture. Photo: International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Truong Thi Mai's visit contributes to the growing Vietnam-Japan relations. She has constantly confirmed the development of the relations. In an earlier speech, as the Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group, she stated that the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is in a period of strong and comprehensive development with high political trust. Vietnam appreciates Japan's effective cooperation and support for Vietnam's national construction and development process, accompanying Vietnam to reach important socio-economic achievements and improve people's lives.

"Japan is Vietnam's leading partner in many fields, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries. Japan continues to be Vietnam's most important economic partner, the largest ODA provider, and the third largest investor and tourism partner. Local cooperation continues to be strengthened, and cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges are increasingly deepened, contributing to strengthening understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries.

The Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Japan has grown to about 430,000 people, becoming the second-largest foreign community in Japan. They actively contribute to the socio-economic development of the two countries.

Along with the strong development momentum of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership, the good cooperative relationship between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Japanese Parliament is constantly being strengthened. The two sides regularly exchange delegations, including delegations of leaders and specialized teams. The cooperative relationship between the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance continues to develop brilliantly."

She spoke highly of the relations between Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and Vietnam's Communist Party, stating that it creates a political foundation for developing the Japan - Vietnam relations in all fields.

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