A number of prestigious professors and experts from Japanese and Vietnamese agencies and organisations recently discussed “the history and the prospects of Viet Nam-Japan relations with a view from the central region”.  Co-organised by the University of Da Nang and the municipal People’s Committee, the event on 22 and 23 November was held to mark the 40^th anniversary of Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic ties.

Prof Shiraishi Masaya from the Waseda University said that there have been numerous exchanges between Japan and Viet Nam’s central provinces from ancient times to the present.  In ancient times, Buddhist bilateral exchanges took place, and in the Middle Ages there were many visits by Japanese trading ships to the port of Da Nang, and the Japanese quarter in Quang Nam Province’s Hoi An City was established.  The successful development of the bilateral relationship, and the fruitful cooperation resulting, has been visible in many areas, but especially in trade and industry.    

Participants at the discussion

Assoc Prof Nguyen Van Kim from the Ha Noi University of Social Sciences and Humanities affirmed that Japan’s Edo era (1600 - 1868) had set up a bilateral relationship with Viet Nam from the early 18^th century.  After that time, Japan and Viet Nam had become important partners.  Most notably, the princess of Viet Nam’s Lord Nguyen Phuc Nguyen married a Japanese businessman, Mr Araki Sotaro, in 1619. 

In 1973, Viet Nam and Japan set up diplomatic ties and strengthened their cooperation in culture, the economy and politics.  In 2006, the two countries agreed to upgrade their ties to a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.  Recent years have seen the fruitful results of ODA and FDI projects from Japan.  The total inflow of ODA, FDI and other capital from Japan to Viet Nam in 2011 was around 3 billion USD, accounting for 40% of the total FDI into Viet Nam.

The municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman, Mr Phung Tan Viet, expressed his belief that the event would significantly contribute to strengthening the bilateral, long-lasting relationship, as well as lifting their strategic partnership to a new height in the near future.

The Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr Mai Dang Hieu, said that his city was making every effort to promote even more sustainable cooperative relations with Japan in the future.