Vietnamese and Japanese participants join a tree planting event at Đà Nẵng City's Liên Chiểu district's Park. The event is one of a series activities to mark the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-Japan diplomatic ties. — VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — A tree planting event marking the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-Japan diplomatic ties (September 21, 1973 - 2023) was held by the central city’s Union of Friendship Organisations and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Đà Nẵng City (JCCID) in Đà Nẵng.

The tree plantation, an initiative of the JBAD with contributions from Japanese enterprises in Đà Nẵng, is one of a series of activities throughout the year 2023, promoting the relationship between Việt Nam and Japan, as well as Japan and Đà Nẵng, Vice Chairman of the Union Nguyễn Thị Kim Tuyến said.

She said star apple trees, grown at Liên Chiểu District’s Park, will imprint a deeper and closer relationship between the two countries, and Đà Nẵng with Japanese partners.

Head of JCCID, Hirayama Keiji, said these star apple trees act as a typical symbol of the longer and stronger ties between Japan and Việt Nam.

He said the tree growing event not only marked the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam-Japan diplomatic ties but also contributed to a greener earth as Việt Nam and Japan look towards a ‘green’ future.

A stone set up at Liên Chiểu Park marking the Việt Nam-Japan friendship tree planting event in Đà Nẵng City. — VNS Photo Công Thành

Keiji Hirayama said that the event also welcomed the elevation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and Japan.

Shimonishi Kiyoshi, Deputy Head of the Japanese General Consulate in Đà Nẵng, said many cultural exchanges and activities have been held in Việt Nam, including Đà Nẵng, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

A painting and writing competition on Japan was organised among students at schools in the city. Free community concerts by the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) Five, as well as the annual Japanese Cultural Day in Đà Nẵng, were held, he said.

Đà Nẵng was a stop for the Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko as part of their official trip to Việt Nam.

The city is home to 228 investment projects from Japan, worth US$1.04 billion, creating 40,000 jobs for provinces in central Việt Nam.

Đà Nẵng has been calling for stronger and deeper investment from Japanese businesses in Kisarazu, Yokohama, Osaka, Chiba, and Kanagawa, in Japan.

More than 300 students from the Đà Nẵng-based private university have been employed by Japanese companies for work and study in Japan since 2017.

Nine cities in Japan, including Fukuoka, Yokohama, Maebashi, Chiba, Shizuoka, Tokyo, Tottori, and Nagasaki, and 82 Japanese businesses, have inked cooperation deals for human resources training and employment from central Việt Nam.

The Đà Nẵng Mikazuki Japanese Resort & Spa, which was put into operation in Liên Chiểu district, has been seen as the largest investment from Japan in Đà Nẵng.

Four prefectures from Japan, including Kisarazu, Kawasaki, Sakai, and Yokohama, have inked friendships and cooperation with Đà Nẵng, and the annual Việt Nam-Japan Cultural Exchange Day has been organised in Đà Nẵng since 2014.

Japan upgraded its Consulate Office in Đà Nẵng City to a General Consulate just a year after it was founded in 2020. — VNS