Professor-Doctor Furuta Motoo, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association and Founding Rector of the Vietnam-Japan University (Photo: Vietnam National University, Hanoi)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam-Japan relations haveseen strong progress across the field since the establishment of diplomaticties 45 years ago, which is partly attributable to the bridge-building role ofmany individuals and organisations.
Professor-Doctor Furuta Motoo, Chairman of the Japan-VietnamFriendship Association (JVFA) and Founding Rector of the Vietnam-JapanUniversity, is one such individual.
The JVFA was set up in 1955 with the goal of promoting thefriendship between the people of the two countries, he said, adding that withthe rapid increase in the number of Vietnamese living in Japan, one of the mainactivities of the association now is to support the overseas Vietnamesecommunity in Japan.
With an expansive network of chapters, the association hasorganised diverse exchange activities such as Vietnamese language classes,gatherings on the occasion of Vietnamese traditional lunar new year, filmscreenings, music and cuisine festivals.
As Founding Rector of the Vietnam-Japan University, Prof Furutasaid the university aims to become a leading research university in Asia.
In July 2017, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations(VUFO) established the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Centre to organise and supportjoint scientific research and technological transfer programmes between Vietnamand Japan. The centre also works to promote bilateral economic and culturalexchange activities.
Director of the Centre Bui Khac Son, who is also deputy headof VUFO and standing vice chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association,said the centre aims to become a reliable bridge connecting the businesscommunities of the two countries.
According to Son, the centre will focus on facilitatingbusiness partnership in market research, personnel training, technologytransfer, agriculture and industries using renewable energy.
Besides, the centre also plans other cultural and sportevents such as making a film on agriculturalist Luong Dinh Cua who was trainedin Japan, and holding a friendship golf tournament.
For Syoei Utsuda, President of the Vietnam Friendship Associationin Japan, Vietnam has become familiar to Japanese people. At present, more than260,000 Vietnamese are living in Japan, with the number of student and traineesrising rapidly.
According to Utsuda, his association has engaged in manysupport activities targeting the overseas Vietnamese in Japan. It hosted aconference last August on the theme of spiritual support for Vietnamese inJapan.-VNA
