(VNF) - On the occasion of launching activities celebrating the 45^th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations in 2018, the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam in cooperation with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a ceremony in Hanoi on January 9^th to welcome new year and present an Order of the Rising Sun to Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association, former Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung; President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association To Huy Rua; Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association, former Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh; and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda addresses the ceremony. (Photo: Quang Viet/VNF)

Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda expressed his delight at the vigorous, comprehensive and substantive development of the Japan - Vietnam friendship and cooperation.

He stressed the importance of the Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko’s visit to Vietnam last March, saying that it marked a milestone in the friendly and cooperative ties and facilitated the bilateral extensive strategic partnership in all fields, particularly in culture cooperation, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The series of activities to celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam – Japan diplomatic relations in 2018 will focus on strengthening political and security cooperation, maintaining a high level of direct investment capital, completing high-quality infrastructure projects and training human resources, added Ambassador Kunio Umeda.

Participants at the event showed delight at the development of the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan. They shared the belief that the bilateral ties will be reinforced and develop for the sake of the Vietnamese and Japanese people.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association, former Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh (R) honoured with Japanese order. (Photo: Quang Viet/VNF)

On the occasion, the Japanese Embassy also presented an Order of the Rising Sun to Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association, former Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh.

Ambassador Kunio Umeda stressed that Japan’s conferment of the Order to former ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh was in recognition of his contributions to building and developing the fine relations between Japan and Vietnam, such as organising the "Vietnam Festival in Japan"; helping Japan overcome difficulties after China banned the export of rare earths to the country in 2010 and supporting Japan in both spiritual and material assistance after the 2011 Tsunami disaster.

In addition, the Japanese Embassy in Hanoi also announced the logo to be used for the 45^th anniversary of the establishment of two countries’ diplomatic relations, with the stylised image of Vietnam’s Chim Lac (a kind of Vietnamese mythical bird) and Japanese Cherry Blossom./.

Translated by Minh Chau