Vietnam and Japan should increase significant friendship exchanges on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (1973-2018), especially the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival in HCM City.

Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Organization Commission, made the statement while hosting Tsutomu Takebe, Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, in Hanoi on January 12.

Chinh, who is also President of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, informed the guest that the National Assembly of Vietnam will host the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) in Hanoi from January 18-21. He said he welcomes a delegation from the Japanese Lower House of Parliament to the event.

Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Organisation Commission (R) and Tsutomu Takebe, Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance

He described 2018 - when the two nations celebrate the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties - as a milestone in the bilateral relations with breakthroughs in all fields, including politics, economy, culture, education and people-to-people exchange.

The Government of Vietnam pledges to join hands with its Japanese counterpart to successfully develop the Vietnam – Japan University, Chinh said, hoping that the two countries will seek measures to accelerate the project.

For his part, Tsutomu Takebe said Japan is actively conducting practical activities to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The Japanese Lower House of Parliament will send a delegation to the APPF – 26 in Vietnam, he said, expressing his belief that Vietnam will host the event successfully.

He also voiced his hope that the Vietnam – Japan University will receive the best support from the host country so that the project can be on schedule as committed by the two Governments./.

( VNF/VNA )