The event is a series of seminars held every two years by the Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan (VANJ), the Vietnamese Professionals in Japan (VPJ) and the Vietnamese Youth and Students’ Association (VYSA) in Japan.

The Vietnam Summit in Japan 2023 opens at the University of Tokyo on October 15.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu highlighted the rapid development of the Vietnamese community in Japan in recent years, which is the second largest foreign community in Japan with nearly 500,000 people.

In this community, many have obtained important positions in teaching, research, and management at prestigious universities and businesses in Japan, the ambassador said, stressing that the community have made great contributions to the development of the Vietnamese community in Japan and the host country’s socio-economic development. They also serve as important bridges promoting friendship cooperation between the two countries.

The firm foundation of scientific and technological cooperation over the past years, along with the development of the Vietnamese intellectual community in Japan, will help create a new pillar - science, technology and innovation cooperation, in the relations between the two countries, Hieu added.

According to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy, Vietnamese scientific intellectuals abroad are an indispensable force of Vietnam's science and technology sector.

Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan have engaged in many practical activities benefitting their homeland and contributed to establishing and promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, especially in the fields of technology and innovation, he said.

In a plenary discussion on the 50-year relations between Vietnam and Japan, Rector of Vietnam - Japan University, Prof. Furuta Motoo said the key for the bilateral relations in the future will be whether they can build a really equal partnership. According to him, with its rapid development at present, Vietnam has sufficient foundations and conditions to have a bilateral "equal partnership" with Japan.

Participants reviewed the development of Vietnam-Japan relations over the past five decades, and discussed opportunities and challenges posed for the bilateral relationship in the future.

In the framework of the event, many activities have been organised, including an exhibition on science - technology and trade and nine debates gathering 62 speakers, which focus on directions for Vietnamese people in Japan, challenges and opportunities for Vietnam in microchip technology, and green energy and sustainable development in Vietnam.

Vietnam, Japan step up defence cooperation

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army and Deputy Defence Minister, held talks with General Yoshida Yoshihide, Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defence Forces Joint Staff in Japan on October 11.

Prime Minister receives Foreign Minister of Japan

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko in Hanoi on October 10, highly valuing his guest’s contributions to the two countries’ relations on different posts she has held over the past years.

President Vo Van Thuong hosts Japanese Foreign Minister

President Vo Van Thuong hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 10 for visiting Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko, during which he applauded the guest's contributions to the Vietnam-Japan relations in her different positions over the years.

First Vietnam Pho Festival 2023 held in Japan

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2023, the first of its kind, kicked off in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo on October 7, as part of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

Forum connects Vietnamese localities, firms with Japan's Kyushu region

An economic forum connecting localities and businesses of Vietnam with those of Japan’s Kyushu region took place in Fukuoka prefecture on October 6.

Source: VNA