A special concert was held in Sakai city of Japanese prefecture of Osaka on April 6 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan, VOV reported.

The Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre has been occupied by approximately 2,000 spectators watching Vietnamese and Japanese artists perform in the special concert. Photo: VOV

The Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre has been occupied by approximately 2,000 spectators watching Vietnamese and Japanese artists perform in the special concert.

The event brought together artists from the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra and the Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Notably, conductor Honna Tetsuji who has been with Vietnam for years, and famous violinist Bui Cong Duy also participated in the program.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Quang Hieu welcomed the two sides' efforts to organize this special meaningful concert and thanked the participation of Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji, violinist Bui Cong Duy and the artists of the Vietnam and Osaka Symphony Orchestra.

He highlighted the significance of the concert which he said together with other cultural activities to be held in the coming weeks will help promote cultural exchanges and close bond between the two countries.

The event brought together artists from the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra and the Osaka Symphony Orchestra. Notably, conductor Honna Tetsuji who has been with Vietnam for years, and famous violinist Bui Cong Duy also participated in the program. Photo: VNA

State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takei Shunsuke congratulated the success of the concert, the first cultural event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Vietnam, noting bilateral relations are at their best.

He said 2023 is a special time for the two sides to review the achievements of the past 50 years of their relations and to strive for better relations in the next 50 years.

The ballroom of Fenice Sakai Performing Arts Centre was occupied by approximately 2,000 spectators who were treated to masterpieces of Beethoven such as Symphony No.5 and Violin Concerto, among others.

Conductor Honna Tetsuji said Beethoven’s Symphony No5 and Violin Concerto are his favorite pieces that have performed many times in his career. There in Osaka, he wanted to play the pieces again together with Meritorious Artist Bui Cong Duy.

Earlier, during his visit to Japan, Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu greeted the Mayor of Sakai city, received the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association of Sakai city, the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Kansai region and met with representatives of the Association of Vietnamese people living, studying and working in the region such as the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, the Vietnamese Youth and Student Association in Osaka, the Vietnam-Japan Trade Association.

At the meeting with Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu at the Sakai city headquarters, Nagafuji Hideki, the city's mayor, said that Sakai has friendly cooperative relations with many localities of Vietnam such as Binh Dinh province, Da Nang city, and Hoi An; affirming that continuing to promote multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam is one of the city's foreign priorities in the coming time.

Deputy Minister Pham Quang Hieu greeted the Mayor of Sakai city.

Nagafuji highly appreciated the role and active activities of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka. Responding to the proposal of Deputy Minister Hieu, Nagafuji said that he would pay attention and create favorable conditions for the community of nearly 4,000 Vietnamese to live, study and work in the city, making positive contributions in promoting cooperation between Sakai and Vietnam in the coming time.

Leaders of Japan-Vietnam friendship associations in the region pledged to do their best to promote cooperation between the Kansai region and Vietnam in the fields of investment, trade, cultural exchange, and local connection; actively cooperated with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka to successfully organize cultural exchange activities on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan in the region.

At the meeting with representatives of Vietnamese Associations in the region, they reported to the Deputy Minister on the situation and plan of activities, proposed programs to promote connection and support Vietnamese people in the region as well as promoting cooperation relations between the Kansai region and localities of Vietnam.

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