The Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association (VJFA) held the 7th National Congress for the term 2021-2026 on March 22, in Hanoi.

The event was attended in person and online by nearly 150 delegates, representing the provinces and cities of the association, units under the Association's Central Committee across the country.

On this occasion, delegates expressed their hope for the development of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association. It is expected to be a bridge to promote exchange and cooperation activities in all fields of politics, economy, culture, society and trade between the two countries.

Here are comments shared by some delegates.

Trinh Minh Phuc Arbitrator, Vietnam International Arbitration Center, former General Director of Petrolimex Insurance Joint Stock Company (PJICO):

"I have been close-knit with Japan for more than 20 years. Due to my work in the insurance field, I have been to Japan many times to solve cases related to the loss of ships and goods exported to Japan. At that time, the Japanese friends enthusiastically helped us. Japanese lawyers even did not get paid after the work.

Trinh Minh Phuc, Arbitrator, Vietnam International Arbitration Center, former General Director of Petrolimex Insurance Joint Stock Company (PJICO). Photo: VNT.

"The Japanese behave honestly, frankly and have a lot of sympathy for Vietnam. I encouraged my grandson to study in Japan. He has been studying in high school in Japan for two years now and is going to study electronics after that.

"About 450,000 Vietnamese people are living and working in Japan, of which the number of trainees is more than 200,000, leading the number of trainees in Japan. Therefore, I really want the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association, to specialize in people-to-people diplomacy, to contribute to educating and raising the sense of national self-reliance of overseas Vietnamese. Besides, it is necessary to continue to multiply cherry blossom gardens in Vietnam to show the close friendship of the two countries."

Nguyen Duc Kien, Deputy General Director of An Phuc International Joint Stock Company, specializing in labor export to the Japanese market:

"The Vietnam - Japan relationship is very important. It is able to create more job opportunities for Vietnamese workers and to help Vietnam train high-quality human resources. After returning homeland, they can raise their income and have good thinking and knowledge to orient their careers, as well as to contribute to economic development of society.

For many years, the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association has connected the two countries' businesses to handle difficulties for Vietnamese businesses and workers living and working in Japan, especially during the hard time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the past two years, due to the impact of the pandemic, the number of Vietnamese workers waiting to export to Japan was very numerous. The association has helped remove barriers to bring opportunities for Vietnamese workers to work in Japan.

At this event, I hope that the leadership team of the Association in the 2021-2026 term will continue to maintain and promote the role as a bridge in all fields, helping Vietnamese to study and work in Japan."

Nguyen Duc Kien, Deputy General Director of An Phuc International Joint Stock Company, specializing in labor export to the Japanese market. Photo: VNT.

Hoang Van Nhan, Vice President of the Club of Vietnamese Alumni in Japan, former Secretary General of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association:

"Having been with the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association through many congresses, I am very pleased and proud to see the Association increasingly developing, renovating its operation methods, in accordance with the policy of multilateralization and diversification of international relations.

Vietnam - Japan relations are at their most brilliant stage. It cannot be denied the important role of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association. During the past years, the Association has engaged in practical and effective activities to foster the relationship between Vietnam and Japan. It organized cultural exchange activities, sports, tourism, and events for business connection. Especially, through the Club of Vietnamese Alumni in Japan, the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association has made many contributions to educational cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnamese Alumni Club in Japan has grown rapidly, from only about 100 people. Now, it has more than 2,000 members. The club has promoted many exchanges, meetings and cooperation among former students who studied and researched in Japan; organized academic activities within and between industries, support Vietnamese students to study, research and exchange in Japan.

Hoang Van Nhan, Vice President of the Club of Vietnamese Alumni in Japan, former Secretary General of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association. Photo: VNT.

As for economic exchanges, in the past, I was concerned because the Association is not a specialized agency in this field, but over the past time, many specific and practical activities have been promoted by the Association. Although it didn't directly implement, the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association played an important role as a bridge between localities and businesses.

In the term 2021-2026, I hope that the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association will continue to promote and strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Especially, in 2023, which will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, the Association will have many practical activities to well organize this celebration."

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