Over the past 50 years, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan have been continuously strengthened. The achievements of 50 years of strategic cooperation between the two sides continue to be the driving force for Quang Ninh province to establish strong and extensive relations with Japanese localities, including Hokkaido.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son appreciated Takebe Tsutomu's coordination with Quang Ninh province to organize the Hokkaido Festival in Ha Long in November, with many cultural exchange, investment and trade promotion events, combined with student tours and retirees' tourism.