Vietnam-Japan relations thrive thanks to people-based bridge-building
The Vietnam-Japan relations have seen strong progress across the field since the establishment of diplomatic ties 45 years ago, which is partly attributable to the bridge-building role of many individuals and organisations.
Professor-Doctor Furuta Motoo, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association and Founding Rector of the Vietnam-Japan University (Photo: Vietnam National University, Hanoi)
Hanoi (VNA)▨ – Vietnam-Japan relations haveseen strong progress across the field since the establishment of diplomaticties 45 years ago, which is partly attributable to the bridge-building role ofmany individuals and organisations.
Professor-Doctor Furuta Motoo, Chairman of the Japan-VietnamFriendship Association (JVFA) and Founding Rector of the Vietnam-JapanUniversity, is one such individual. The JVFA was set up in 1955 with the goal of promoting thefriendship between the people of the two countries, he said, adding that withthe rapid increase in the number of Vietnamese living in Japan, one of the mainactivities of the association now is to support the overseas Vietnamesecommunity in Japan. With an expansive network of chapters, the association hasorganised diverse exchange activities such as Vietnamese language classes,gatherings on the occasion of Vietnamese traditional lunar new year, filmscreenings, music and cuisine festivals. As Founding Rector of the Vietnam-Japan University, Prof Furutasaid the university aims to become a leading research university in Asia. In July 2017, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations(VUFO) established the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Centre to organise and supportjoint scientific research and technological transfer programmes between Vietnamand Japan. The centre also works to promote bilateral economic and culturalexchange activities. Director of the Centre Bui Khac Son, who is also deputy headof VUFO and standing vice chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association,said the centre aims to become a reliable bridge connecting the businesscommunities of the two countries. According to Son, the centre will focus on facilitatingbusiness partnership in market research, personnel training, technologytransfer, agriculture and industries using renewable energy. Besides, the centre also plans other cultural and sportevents such as making a film on agriculturalist Luong Dinh Cua who was trainedin Japan, and holding a friendship golf tournament. For Syoei Utsuda, President of the Vietnam Friendship Associationin Japan, Vietnam has become familiar to Japanese people. At present, more than260,000 Vietnamese are living in Japan, with the number of student and traineesrising rapidly. According to Utsuda, his association has engaged in manysupport activities targeting the overseas Vietnamese in Japan. It hosted aconference last August on the theme of spiritual support for Vietnamese inJapan.-VNA
Japan attaches special importance to its cooperation with Vietnam, which is reflected through the more regular exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries and higher level of trust between their leaders in recent years.
Vietnam and Japan need to ceaselessly promote cooperation, thus making their intensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia more practical, towards shaping a new strategic partnership model in the East Asia-Pacific region.
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PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
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In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
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The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
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Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
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The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
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Throughout its 80-year history, the VNA has remained at the forefront of information dissemination. It has consistently delivered timely, accurate, and objective reports on both domestic and international events, serving the Party’s leadership, the State’s management, and the public’s demand for official news.
With strong support from local authorities, businesses, organisations, and residents, the province has successfully built or repaired 10,707 homes for disadvantaged households, including war veterans, families of martyrs, ethnic minority people, and low-income residents.
Throughout its resistance against colonialists and imperialists, Vietnam developed a revolutionary press that has served as a benchmark for just and legitimate causes worldwide.
Professor-Doctor Furuta Motoo, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association and Founding Rector of the Vietnam-Japan University (Photo: Vietnam National University, Hanoi) 
