ietnamese Ambassador to Japan Phạm Quang Hiệu (centre, right) on November 12 presented Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's Certificates of merit to Yoichiro Aoyagi, a member of the Japanese House of Representatives. — VNA/VNS Photo

TOKYO — Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Phạm Quang Hiệu on Tuesday presented Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's Certificates of merit to Yoichiro Aoyagi, a member of the Japanese House of Representatives, and the organising board of the Việt Nam Festival at Yoyogi Park for their contributions to Việt Nam-Japan relations.

Hiệu noted that with 17 successful editions, the Việt Nam Festival at the Yoyogi Park has become a key event to foster people-to-people connections between the two countries.

The ambassador extended his congratulations to Aoyagi on his re-election in the general election on October 27 and expressed his hope that Aoyagi would continue to strengthen the friendship between Việt Nam and Japan in his role as a member of the House of Representatives.

For his part, Aoyagi expressed his gratitude and appreciation for this noble award, considering it a honour for collectives and individuals, including Vietnamese friends, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Government, and Japanese people who have joined hands to build a good relationship between the two countries through the Việt Nam Festival at the Yoyogi Park since 2008.

He thanked the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and Vietnamese friends for supporting the organisation of activities, not only the Việt Nam Festival at the Yoyogi Park but also many other activities.

Aoyagi affirmed his commitment to furthering the strong relationship between Japan and Vietnam in the future. — VNA/VNS