(VNF) - The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of the Mekong delta province of Ben Tre convened its founding congress for the 2017-2022 tenure on December 24^th, where 25 members of the executive board were elected.

Truong Duy Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, was elected Chairman of the association.

Executive board members of the Ben Tre provincial chapter of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association.

As a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the association is meant to foster friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, the tradition of solidarity and multi-faceted cooperation between the people of Vietnam in general, the people of Ben Tre in particular and the people of Japan, for the benefit of of two peoples and two countries.

During its first term from 2017 to 2022, the newly-founded friendship association will enhance its important role in promoting people-to-people diplomatic activities between the province and Japanese localities, through their practical cooperative solutions.

The delegates in the congress worked out a plan of action for the next 5 years, focusing on being a bridge for cooperation, attraction of investment and cultural exchanges between Ben Tre and localities in Japan; strengthening organisational structure; increasing the number of the association’s members and establishing more chapters at grass-root level.

At the same time, the association also presented Honorary Membership Certificates to various Japanese NGOs who contributed to Ben Tre province including Dr. Natsume, Director of the Japanese Cleft Palate Foundation; Shigeru Sekiya, President and Akemi Bando, Secretary General of the Support of Vietnam Children Association (SVCA)./.

Translated by Tu Phan