The Head of the Japanese General Consulate, Mori Takero (first left) and his wife at a reception for Vietnamese Miss International, Huỳnh Thị Thanh Thủy, who is Đà Nẵng-born. VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG — The Japanese General Consulate will officially celebrate the birthday of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito at a ceremony in the central city, as he turns 65 years old on February 23.

The Head of the Japanese General Consulate, Mori Takero talked to Việt Nam News on the progressive cooperation and friendship ties with Đà Nẵng and central Việt Nam.

Can you brief us on some key achievements between Japan and central Viet Nam and talk about some positive results from Japan's investment and assistance projects?

I arrived in Đà Nẵng as Japan’s Consul-General in April 2024. Since then, I have been captivated by the culture, traditions, the kindness of the people and the momentum of development of central Việt Nam.

Central Việt Nam and Japan have built a wonderful cooperative relationship. I would like to express my gratitude once again to the leaders and people here. Japan is proud to have contributed to the development of central Việt Nam through support for key infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Hải Vân Tunnel, the improvement of Tiên Sa Port and the development of the Đà Nẵng-Quảng Ngãi Expressway.

I was deeply impressed to meet many Vietnamese people who have studied at top-level universities in Japan and have made success in business and academia, making significant contributions to the development of their hometowns. As a Japanese citizen, I am proud of it and we need it to continue with the next generation.

How about future progress in the relationship between Japan and central Việt Nam?

The Japanese Bridge, an iconic symbol of the Việt Nam-Japan friendship ties in Hội An City, is newly renovated with support from Japanese experts and the government. VNS Photo Công Thành

In Đà Nẵng City, various excellent initiatives are currently being introduced, such as the development of the semiconductor and AI industries, the establishment of a free trade zone, and the development of the international financial centre and the Liên Chiểu port.

These efforts are attracting interest from Japanese companies. Central Việt Nam is expected to develop significantly as a growth centre. Personally, I am committed to conveying the region’s appeal to a wider range of Japanese stakeholders and working to get new investments.

The Đà Nẵng Mikazuki Japanese Resorts & Spa is one of the largest investment project from Japan in Đà Nẵng City and central Việt Nam. Japanese investors have poured more than US$1 billion in the city. Photo courtesy of Đà Nẵng Mikazuki Japanese Resorts & Spa

We will provide all the support, in cooperation with the relevant Vietnamese authorities, to enable outstanding high school students from central Việt Nam to study in Japanese national universities. Japan’s national universities offer world-class education on AI and semiconductors. I am confident that these students will return to central Việt Nam in the future and make significant contributions to the region’s economic development.

Vietnamese students from Đà Nẵng City-based Đông Á University participate in a manpower recruitment event by a Japanese business group. More than 300 students from Đà Nẵng and central Việt Nam have been working in Japan since 2023. Photo courtesy of Phương Chi

Japan’s FDI in Đà Nẵng is the largest in the world in cumulative terms. Japan’s ODA to Đà Nẵng is also the largest globally. The relationship between Japan and Việt Nam is positioned at the highest level as a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’. Japan will continue to strongly cooperate in the development of central Việt Nam.