Simplify visa procedures

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang met with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Komura Masahiro on April 5 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

The Vietnamese official called on the Japanese side to continue providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam's development projects.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and her Japanese counterpart Komura Masahiro.

Deputy FM Hang expressed her gratitude to the Government of Japan for creating favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese (OVs) living, working, and studying in Japan, calling for further support for the Vietnamese community in the coming time, including simplifying visa application procedures.

She took the occasion to show her sympathies over the losses of lives and property that the Japanese government and people had to endure after the disastrous earthquake in the early days of 2024 in Ishikawa prefecture and surrounding areas of central Japan.

Hang thanked Komura for attending the opening ceremony of the Ikebukuro Festival on April 6 to raise funds to support the victims, considering this a vivid testament to the sincere friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

For his part, Komura agreed to continue promoting cooperation between the two countries in various fields within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges, saying that these are important foundations of the friendship between Vietnam and Japan.

He affirmed that he will closely coordinate to successfully organize high-level visits of the two countries' leaders in 2024, and expressed delight at the ODA projects funded by Japan that are contributing to Vietnam's socio-economic development, stating his commitment to continue to bring ODA projects to Vietnam.

The two officials agreed to continue close coordination to address issues related to Vietnamese nationals' violation of Japanese laws, including enhancing education to ensure that the Vietnamese community in Japan strictly abides by local laws.

Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang chairs a discussion with Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in Japan.

On the same day, Deputy FM Hang chaired a seminar with Vietnamese experts and intellectuals in Japan.

As part of her working visit to Japan, Hang also had a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country, during which she highly valued efforts by the agency in implementing OV affairs, saying that this has contributed to strengthening the national solidarity bloc and fostering the good friendship between the peoples and the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

Enhance the good image and position of Vietnam in Japan

Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang had working sessions with the Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad and the Vietnamese Business Association in Japan (VJBA) in Tokyo on April 4.

Meeting with Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for OV, President of the Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad Katsuyuki Tanaka said that there are currently 5 million Japanese expatriates worldwide and the association holds annual congresses to connect them.

The two sides exchanged experience in leveraging the resources and expertise of the overseas communities to contribute to the home countries.

Visiting and working with the VJBA, Hang praised its sense of responsibility and achievements in facilitating trade connections between the two nations.

VJBA President Tong Thi Kim Giao said that operating for 11 years, the association now comprises eight clubs focusing on various sectors such as restaurants, food, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, tourism, import-export, and entrepreneur incubation. Every year, the association organizes numerous activities to connect domestic and international businesses.

The deputy minister suggested member firms leverage their deep understanding of the Japanese market and consumers to expand markets and connect businesses. It is also necessary to continue actively participating in activities held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and the State Committee for OV.

On the same day, Hang and the Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu visited HONTO TV - a media channel of the Vietnamese community in Japan established in March 2022.

Its editor-in-chief Do Thi Minh Phuong stated that to create a media channel with self-produced products about the OV in the East Asian nation, HONTO TV has participated in organizing various cultural events such as the Hoi An Festival in Japan, the cherry blossom festival, and the Hello Saitama Programme.

Phuong took this occasion to express her hope to collaborate with Vietnamese media agencies.

The two diplomats affirmed that the HONTO TV model is necessary and beneficial for the community, stressing the need to continue efforts to uphold its role as a focal point of information in Japan.

Work on OVs and citizen protection is always a priority

On this occasion, Deputy FM Hang and the delegation had a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan.

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu emphasized that the work on OVs and citizen protection is always a priority and is a regular task of the embassy.

Doing this work well will contribute to building a strong community and a friendship bridge in relations between the two countries. In particular, in the context of increasingly good relations between the two countries, with the close attention and direction of the Foreign Ministry, the State Committee for OV, and the collective efforts of representative agencies, Vietnamese associations in Japan are gradually being consolidated, established and put into effective operation.

Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang and the delegation had a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan.

The embassy proactively and regularly warns about earthquakes and sets up a hotline to promptly support people. In 2023, the embassy organized 20 major festivals on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations, creating a good impression and image of Vietnamese people with Japanese people in particular and international friends in general.

Deputy FM Le Thi Thu Hang highly appreciated the results of the embassy's work on human resources that contributed to strengthening the great national unity bloc, contributing to the good friendship between the people of the two countries, and a comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

The Deputy FM especially hailed the embassy for many timely activities to protect citizens during natural disasters and coordinate to handle complex issues arising in the community.

The Deputy FM requested the embassy to pay attention to the work of rewarding and encouraging the Vietnamese community in Japan. She asked the embassy to continue to deploy and do well the work on OVs, paying special attention, care, and support to the community.

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