Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko receive warm welcome of Vietnamese people (Photo: VNA) Various papers in Japan,including “Yomiuri,” “Mainichi,” “Asahi,” Nihon Keizai,” “Japanese News,”“Japan Times,” and “Japan Today,” highlighted Japanese Emperor Akihito andEmpress Michiko’s big smile upon being welcomed by Vietnamese people.
Machini newspaper ran a photo ofthe couple received by Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh at Noi Bai airport onFebruary 28, together with the full text of the Emperor’s statement on hisVietnam visit.
In the statement, the JapaneseEmperor expressed hope that the visit will strengthen mutual understanding and relationsbetween the two nations.
Meanwhile, Asahi newspaper onMarch 1 ran an article entitled “Friendly visit of Emperor and Empress toVietnam”, quoting Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc as saying that the visit is ahistorical event that opens a new chapter in bilateral ties.
During its news programe onFebruary 28, Japan’s NHK Television aired the welcome ceremony for the Japaneseguests in Noi Bai airport, while revealing that during the six-day visit, theJapanese Emperor and Empress will perform exchange activities with Vietnamesepeople.
On March 1, Yomiuri and Asahinewspapers reported that on their first day in Hanoi, the duo will meet 26members of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers programme in Vietnam.
At the same time, Japan Todaynewspaper noted that Japan is the largest official development assistanceprovider and leading trade partner of Vietnam. It quoted a statement from theVietnamese government emphasising that the Japanese Emperor and Empress’s visitis of symbolic significance and a historic milestone in Vietnam-Japanrelations.
The visit reflects Japan’sinterest in the nation and people of Vietnam, it said.
The Japan Times revealed thatduring the visit, the Emperor and Empress will meet families of Japanesesoldiers who chose to stay in Vietnam after World War II, as part of efforts toheal war pains and strengthen friendship between the two countries.
Earlier on February 28, localmedia in Japan reported a ceremony to see the Japanese Emperor and Empress off,which was attended by Prince Naruhito, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and members ofthe Royal family and Japanese Government.
Earlier in January, Japanese PMShinzo Abe made his third visit to Vietnam.-VNA
VNA
