(VNF) - The standing conference of executive committee of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association (VJFA) was held at the headquarter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) on October 11^th.

Present at the event were Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee (PCC) Commission for Organization Ha Ban; Chairman of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group To Huy Rua; President of the VUFO Vu Xuan Hong; VUFO Vice President, VJFA Vice Chairman Bui Khac Son; VUFO General Secretary Don Tuan Phong, VJFA Vice Chairman Nguyen Phu Binh as well as representatives of the Party’s commissions, government agencies, members of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group and the VJFA.

Vice Chairman of the VJFA Bui Khac Son chaired the meeting. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

The 6^th national conference for the 2015 -2020 tenure of the VJFA has elected Transport Minister Dinh La Thang becoming VJFA Chairman. During his time as Chairman, Mr. Dinh La Thang has taken time to personally and timely evaluate and direct the work of the Association. He has made important contributions to make VJFA an important factor in strengthening and expanding the traditional bonds of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Japan, thus creating opportunities for multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

Due to new responsibilities assigned, Chairman Thang was unable to directly lead the association and has announced his aspiration to step away from his role as the VJFA's chairman.

With permission of the competent authority, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of PCC, Head of the PCC Commission for Organization, Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, honorary rector of the Viet – Japan University, Mr. To Huy Rua was elected as the Association’s Chairman.

Deputy Head of the PCC Commission for Organization Ha Ban (white shirt) congratulated Mr. To Huy Rua was elected Chairman of VJFA. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

The association has also added three more members into the executive committee, the standing committee and vice-chairman.

At the meeting, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong congratulated newly-elected Chairman Rua. President Hong believed that, in the near future, the new chairman will contribute more to the development of the VJFA, and the growing relationship between Vietnam and Japan.

VJFA Chaiman To Huy Rua in turn assured his efforts to improve VJFA’s activities towards organizing more cultural, artistic and educational exchanges, in order to strengthen the bilateral friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. The Association will also continue working as a consultant and a bridge for businesses of Vietnam and Japan.

VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong (L) congratulated VJFA Chairman To Huy Rua. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

Chairman To Huy Rua pledged to support the association promoting opportunities to strengthen cooperation more practical and between Vietnam and Japan. (Photo: Thuy Linh/VNF)

At the meeting, Deputy Chairman Nguyen Phu Binh has reported the operations the association had conducted in nine months and orientation of the last three months of 2016.

Accordingly, in nine months of the year, the association’s chapters in Tra Vinh, Dong Nai has been established and the chapters in Quang Nam, Binh Duong is being promoted to establish, so far there are 20 provinces and municipalities direct under the VJFA.

On May 8^th, the Japan-Vietnam Peace and Friendship Promotion Council (JVPF) in Saitama had visited and surveyed the construction of gratitude houses in Quang Nam. At the same time, the JVPF-Saitama also met representatives from the Fukuoka Association of the Cultural Exchange and General Secretary of Vietnam Association to discuss the possibility of cooperation between the two organizations. In September, the Vietnam - Japan University has enrolled students for two post-graduates classes.

In April, the VJFA sponsored Japanese cherry blossom festival at Thang Long Citadel; met with Japan's Dotoku Kaikan and introduced tea ceremony to establish the tea ceremony society expanding tea culture in Vietnam.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Phu Binh has deployed operational plans of the association during the last three months of 2016. The association will focus promote Japanese business club, planning organization of Club’s Congress, connecting businesses more and more.

On October 14^th, the Council Secretariat of VJFA will attend opening ceremony of flower festival in Ha Giang; combining with the Fukuoka Association of the Cultural Exchange to organize cross-cultural exchange of Japanese cuisine; welcoming the delegation of the JVPF grant scholarships for ethnic students in Ha Giang and children affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Ha Giang, Thai Binh in November; in coordination with the VUFO in Vinh Phuc province and tea ceremony club organize tea cultural exchanges in December.

Speaking concluded the conference, Chairman To Huy Rua has noted comments of the participants of the conference to orientation activities from now until the end of 2016 and 2017./.

Minh Phuong