Strengthening Vietnam, Japan People-to-People Diplomacy

Dr. Le Viet Dung, president of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Can Tho, former vice rector of Can Tho University.

The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Can Tho was officially established in September 1997.

This is one of 21 member associations of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Can Tho City. The Association maintains activities of peace, solidarity, and people-to-people exchange with Japanese partners.

The activities are conducted through exchange of delegations, knowledge and experiences in training and scientific research, and understand the need for business investment cooperation and organization of cultural and art exchanges.

What solutions has the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Can Tho done to bring about effective people-to-people diplomacy?

The Association regularly cooperates with the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City to organize annual diplomatic activities, and propose specific activities.

The activities are carried out on the basis of cooperation between the two sides. The Consulate General provides financial support, and the Association takes care of the organization, location, program and attendees.

In addition to activities in Can Tho, the Association also supports the Consulate General and Japanese partners to connect with provinces in the Mekong Delta region in cultural exchange, educational and economic cooperation.

The association also connects with businesses of the two countries in Can Tho and neighboring provinces to organize diplomatic activities such as: Japan's National Foundation Day (February 11), Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam-Japan (September 21), and the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival.

Participating businesses have the opportunity to introduce their products and strengthen connections with partner businesses.

To strengthen investment and the image of Can Tho City to the Japanese business community, in September 2017, Can Tho established the Japan Desk.

Since its establishment, investment activities in Japan have developed well over the years. The Japan Desk has connected many programs, projects, scholarships, and labor export between Vietnam-Japan.

This is also an opportunity for Japanese businesses to introduce their company and recruit employees.

These community connection activities are carried out on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Le Viet Dung, president of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Can Tho during the visit to Takesho Food Vietnam Co., Ltd (Tra Noc 2 Industrial Park, O Mon District, Can Tho City).

What are practical activities used to bring the people of the two countries closer together, for them to have the opportunity to cooperate?

To connect the Japanese community doing business and living in Can Tho City and neighboring provinces with the people of the city, the Association regularly cooperates with the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City.

We organize joint activities to attract citizens of the two countries to participate, for them to understand each other better.

We organize the annual Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival in Can Tho City. To date, it has become an important international event.

In particular, the event has attracted the attention of Japanese partners and businesses in the Mekong Delta, creating opportunities to strengthen investment and trade connectivity between the Mekong Delta and Japan.

The Association organizes agricultural seminars for students to introduce businesses and recruit personnel. Many enterprises have recruited high-quality personnel on the basis of coordination with Japanese enterprises in Can Tho and neighboring provinces.

What will the Association do to continue to develop in the future?

In the next few years, the Association will continue to develop its organization on the basis of strengthening the cooperation between the Association and the local friendship organizations with Japan.

This is through the guidance of activities, between the Association and the provinces/cities of Vietnam, that have established friendly cooperative relations with the provinces/special zones of Japan.

We will also pay attention to developing the member network, focusing on attracting the participation of young people.

The Association hopes that its development will contribute to diversifying people-to-people diplomacy and connecting the community in the new situation in Can Tho City.

We also hope that it will contribute to the activities of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association. The activities also strengthen the Vietnam-Japan relationship, and cooperation in economic and trade between the two countries.

The Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Can Tho City recently visited Takesho Food Vietnam Co. Ltd. (Tra Noc 2 Industrial Park, O Mon District, Can Tho City). The Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Can Tho City recently visited Takesho Food Vietnam Co. Ltd. (Tra Noc 2 Industrial Park, O Mon District, Can Tho City). Toshinao Tanaka, president and CEO of the company, expressed his gratitude to the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Can Tho and Can Tho University for creating favorable conditions for the construction of the company's factory. Nguyen Thuy Ngoc Lan, vice president of Union of Friendship Organizations in Can Tho, hopes that the company will develop, supporting people and businesses in Can Tho and in the Mekong Delta region to research new products. Through the cooperation, it will help businesses and people of the two countries understand each other better, maintaining the friendship of the two peoples.

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