Greetings from Head of Organizing Committee of Japan

Mr. Yamada Taikio – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Vietnam.

Currently, Japan and Vietnam are said to be in the best situation ever. High-level exchanges take place continuously between the two countries, and a special relationship of trust has been fostered at the level of the leaders of both countries. Furthermore, as the international situation becomes increasingly severe, Japan and Vietnam recognize each other as important strategic partners in a wider range of fields than ever before, and have built and developed an extremely good relationship.

Under these circumstances, it is my great pleasure to welcome Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Princess Akishino and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam with everyone involved in Japan-Vietnam relations.

When posterity looks back on this 50th anniversary year, it will be described as the year in which the Japan-Vietnam relationship, which has ``unlimited possibilities,'' stood on an equal footing and took a big leap forward toward the future and the world. I am thinking of doing so.

For Japan, Vietnam is a key partner in realizing a "free and open Indo-Pacific," and Japan, in cooperation with Vietnam, will further promote initiatives that will contribute to peace and prosperity in this region. That's a good idea.

Looking at the economy, Vietnam recorded the highest GDP growth in ASEAN last year at an annual rate of 8%. Against this backdrop of strong growth, a recent JETRO survey found that Vietnam is the second most popular country/region for Japanese companies to expand their business in the future, after the United States. I hope that further investment and business development by Japanese companies will create a further virtuous cycle for the economies of both countries. This year, as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we would like to further accelerate our bilateral relationship by strengthening cooperation in various fields such as infrastructure, ODA, DX and GX, modernization/industrialization, and human resource development, in addition to investment and trade. I'm here.

Additionally, exchanges between the two countries are expanding in many other fields. Currently, over 500,000 Vietnamese people live in Japan, making it the second largest foreign community in Japan, and many Vietnamese people play an important role in Japan's economy and society. has made a significant contribution.

Japan-Vietnam relations have developed so rapidly and become so close, but behind this development lies not only the political and economic aspects, but also the long historical and cultural ties between Japan and Vietnam. I believe that there is "empathy and resonance between people."

There is an anecdote that around the 8th century, a monk from Lin-eup (present-day central Vietnam), Buddha Tetsu, dedicated a type of gagaku called ``Rin-euraku'' at the opening ceremony of the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple. It is also a love story between Sotaro Araki, a merchant from Nagasaki, Japan, and Princess Ngoc Hoa, a princess of Vietnam's Nguyen Dynasty, during the red seal ship trading era from the 16th to the 17th century. These facts show that there is a long historical connection between Japan and Vietnam since ancient times.

This year marks the 50th anniversary, and many people are reminded of the long history of exchanges between Japan and Vietnam, the cultural affinity, and the "empathy and resonance" between the two countries, which are the basis for the development of Japan-Vietnam relations. I hope that you will rediscover and reaffirm certain things, and also feel that there are further possibilities hidden in the future of our two countries. I am convinced that this empathy and resonance is the driving force for further developing the Japan-Vietnam relationship, which is said to have ``limitless potential.''

We will continue to work hard towards the next 50 years of Japan-Vietnam relations.

On September 21, 1973, Japan and Vietnam established diplomatic relations. Since then, the friendly and cooperative relationship between Japan and Vietnam has continued to develop in a wide range of fields, including politics, economics, culture, and sports, and from the leaders to the grassroots level.

In 2023, Japan and Vietnam will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The relationship between our two countries, which is said to have ``limitless potential,'' is about to reach a turning point in which it will make even greater strides. On the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, we would like to look back on the Japan-Vietnam relationship to date, and build a foundation that will enable the relationship to make great strides into the future, from a mutually beneficial and equal standpoint, and toward the region and the world. I would like.

The basis for the development of Japan-Vietnam relations to date is empathy and resonance between people. And we are supported by the activities of everyone who has been involved in various fields. Throughout 2023, we would like to work with you to create commemorative projects befitting the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam.

In order to make this 50th anniversary commemorative project more concrete, we have established a Japanese executive committee that brings together embassies, consulates general, government-related organizations, and local chambers of commerce and industry (JCCI, JCCH, and JCCID)

The Japanese executive committee aims to carry out the following 50th anniversary projects under the theme of "Hand in hand to the future and the world."

1. More than just a celebratory event, we look back on the trajectory of the past 50 years and look forward to the next 50 years, building a mutually beneficial and equal relationship between Japan and Vietnam, and making even greater strides into the future and the world. This project will lay the foundation for achieving this goal.

2. We value ``empathy between people'' as the basis for the development of Japan-Vietnam relations, and make it a ``participatory project'' in which all volunteers from both Japan and Vietnam participate and work together in equal partnership.

3. Bearing in mind that Japan-Vietnam relations are developing in all fields, at all levels, and in all generations, this project should be a "comprehensive project" that all people involved in Japan-Vietnam relations can contribute to and enjoy.

We would like to work together with you to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam.