‘Affection, Sincerity, Trust’ are the new motto for the Viet Nam-Japan relationship that the two countries’ PMs agreed upon during Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Japan in November 2021. Under that motto, Da Nang has organised many vibrant and rich people-to-people exchange activities so as to promote closer people-to-people relations. Since then, the friendship and cooperative ties between Japan and Viet Nam as whole, and the ties between Da Nang and Japanese localities in particular, has become deeper and more developed. 

Da Nang and Japanese delegates are seen performming a traditional Japanese Sake Barrel-Breaking Ceremony at the opening ceremony of the recent Viet Nam - Japan Festival. Photo: X.D

Since the beginning of the year, Viet Nam - Japan people-to-people exchanges in Da Nang have been a prominent highlight in the picture of people-to-people diplomacy and the city's diplomacy in general.

Recently, the city has successfully organised the Viet Nam - Japan Festival, which is one of the important events in the series of events to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationships between Viet Nam and Japan (1973 - 2023).  The festival left many impressions in the hearts of Japanese people, tourists and business community in Da Nang.

Mr. Satoh Tetsuya from Yokohama said that he has been in Da Nang for 2 years and has attended two editions of this highly meaningful festival. This year's festival has many unique cultural activities that Japanese and Vietnamese people experienced by themselves and exchanged with each other. There is no denying that this event made the peoples of the two countries closer together, emotionally bonded and mutually understood more about the customs and culture of the two countries.

“I am very happy that the Yokohama, which is my hometown, has established friendly and cooperative relations with Da Nang. At this time, in my hometown, many meaningful activities and events are taking place to celebrate this special year. Living in Da Nang for 2 years, I have received a lot of enthusiastic help from the people here that make me want to stick with this Vietnamese city. Da Nang is really highly attractive to me because of its safe tourism environment, modern and developed IT infrastructure and stable political situation that bring peace of mind and safety when living in this livable city,” said Mr. Tetsuya.

Also attending the festival, Ms. Le Thi Thanh Thuy, residing in Hai Chau District, Da Nang, said the festival offered an opportunity for her and other local residents to gain a deeper insight into Japan whilst the people of the two countries would have the opportunity to experience the culture of each other. Hopefully, the city would maintain this festival so that people can continue to experience the unique culture of “the land of the rising sun”.

As evaluated by Consul General of Japan in Da Nang Yakabe Yoshinori, it can be seen that, between Da Nang and Japan, there is not only cooperation in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, culture and education but also mutual understanding and empathy between the people of the two countries thanks to the long-standing historical-cultural connection between the two countries. The Japan - Viet Nam Festival enables the people of both sides to enhance mutual exchanges and affection as well.

Besides, this year's festival was also attended by representatives from local government agencies, universities and companies from Japan. That clearly shows that Da Nang is increasingly attracting the attention of Japanese businesses and investors, thus promoting cooperation in many fields between Da Nang and Japanese localities.

A wide array of interesting exchange activities

As reported by Chairman of the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations Nguyen Ngoc Binh, on the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationships between Viet Nam and Japan, his agency, in collaboration with the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Association partnered with the the Consulate General of Japan in Da Nang and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Da Nang (JCCID), the University of Foreign Language Studies  and related units, recently organised many meaningful activities.

Notable among the aforementioned activities are a painting and writing contest on Japan themed ‘Da Nang students join hands to build Viet Nam - Japan friendship"; the National Japanese Speech Contest - Da Nang 2023; the instructions for elementary school students to make toys using motors manufactured by Mabuchi Motor Company, music exchange programmes featuring performances by a quartet from the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

Over the past years, the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations and the Da Nang chapter of the Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Association have welcomed many Japanese delegations arriving in the city for travel and work, calling on many Japanese partners to seek effective investment opportunities in Da Nang, sending many students from the city to Japan for study and research, and promoting the city’s people and culture to Japanese friends.

“People's diplomacy plays a very important role in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting friendship and cooperation between Da Nang dwellers, the Vietnamese people in general and the Japanese people, thereby promoting the image and enhancing the position of Da Nang to international friends, contributing to beefing up the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan to a new height", emphasised Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by A.THU