State President Võ Văn Thưởng and his wife meet with Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko in Hà Nội on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — State President Võ Văn Thưởng hosted a reception on Friday morning for Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, who are on an official visit to Việt Nam.

Welcoming the Prince and the Princess to Việt Nam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic tie establishment, Thưởng said the visit would make an important contribution to enhancing understanding between the people of the two nations, promoting economic, investment, trade relations, especially people-to-people, locality-to-locality exchanges and laying a solid foundation for the bilateral relations in the future.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his pleasure at the practical and effective development of the comprehensive Việt Nam-Japan Strategic Partnership while affirming that Việt Nam always regards Japan as a good friend who accompanies and shares, supports Việt Nam in the process of national construction and growth.

President Thưởng sent his greetings and wishes to His Majesty Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, former Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, and invited Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit Việt Nam.

The Japanese Crown Prince Akishino spoke highly of Việt Nam’s achievements over the past few years.

He stressed that cultural similarities and long-standing historical coherence are important foundations for the two countries to promote cooperation and bring Việt Nam-Japan relations to new heights. — VNS