During his reception on Sunday afternoon for Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kawashima Kiko, Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang highlighted that their visit to the city marked the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of the Viet Nam-Japan diplomatic ties (1973-2023).

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (right) hosts the reception for Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kawashima Kiko during their visit to the city. Photo: T.PHUONG

He emphasised that Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, always valued its friendly relationship with Japan. Till date, Da Nang has signed Memoranda of Understanding to establish official friendship and cooperation relations with 4 Japanese cities, namely Kawasaki, Sakai, Yokohama and Kisarazu.

In recent years, cooperation programmes between Japanese localities and Da Nang have been implemented effectively in the fields which are their strengths, thereby contributing to deepening the Viet Nam - Japan ties, Mr. Quang added.

The Da Nang top leader wished the Japanese Crown Prince and Princess a successful visit to Viet Nam, thereby feeling the friendship and attachment between the two peoples, and better understanding the country and people of Viet Nam in general and Da Nang in particular.

For his part, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino thanked the city leader for the respectful and warm welcome.

Crown Prince Akishino said that this was the third time he had visited Viet Nam but the first time he has visited Da Nang. He expressed his joy that Da Nang has established official friendship and cooperation relations with 4 cities of Japan.

He hoped that the bilateral relationships between Japan and Viet Nam, and between Da Nang and Japanese localities, would be further fostered in the time to come.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG