President attends ceremony marking 45 years of Vietnam-Japan ties

On June 1, President Tran Dai Quang and his high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended a ceremony in Tokyo celebrating the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. Those in attendance included Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michito, Japanese ministers and nearly 50 parliamentarians, leaders of Japanese political parties and Vietnamese community representatives in Japan.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties on September 21, 1973, Vietnam and Japan have gone a long way together to promote friendship, mutual trust and respect, and equality for common benefits. The two nations are both extensive strategic partners and sincere friends, he said, noting that the celebration shows the firm confidence in the brighter future of bilateral ties.

Japan has become the top important, long-term partner and a close friend of Vietnam, evidenced by regular high-level visits and exchanges. Notably, Vietnam visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan in early 2017 left profound impressions on millions of Vietnamese people, he emphasized.

Minh expressed his belief that with high political trust, sustained efforts and supplementary strengths and potentials, Vietnam-Japan ties will enter a new development period, achieving more effective and practical results in multiple fields, adding that the 45-year path of development will be extended based on close-knit and flourishing ties between the two countries.

For his part, Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono, for his part said the Vietnam – Japan relationship is closer than ever as shown by the State visit to Vietnam by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko last year and this State visit to Japan by President Tran Dai Quang and his wife.

Both sides have consented to augment and expand cooperation and exchanges across fields such as politics, security, economics, human resources training, culture and sports, and together deal with regional and global issues.

President Tran Dai Quang used the occasion to present the Order of Friendship to Japanese officials in recognition of their great contributions to the development of bilateral relations.

They are Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) and President of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Toshihiro Nikai, Chairperson of the LDP’s Policy Research Council Fumio Kishida, Special Advisor and former President of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Tsutomu Takebe, Special Ambassador for Japan – Vietnam and Vietnam – Japan Relationships Ryotaro Sugi, Acting Secretary General of the LDP and Acting Secretary General of the Japan – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Motoo Hayashi and Most Venerable Buddhist Master Yoshimizu Daichi.