Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko at a reception by Đà Nẵng City's People's Committee. VNS Photo Công Thành

ĐÀ NẴNG – The Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko visited the central city and Quảng Nam Province as part of the official trip to Việt Nam on September 23-25, promising deeper friendship between the two nations.

At a reception by Đà Nẵng City’s People’s Committee, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino said he was so happy to visit Việt Nam again on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries (September 21, 1973-September 21, 2023).

“I have visited Việt Nam three times, but it’s the first time in Đà Nẵng. Previously, I heard about Đà Nẵng City, and the city was chosen as a destination for my visit,”  Crown Prince Akishino said.

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko received a warm welcome at the Furama Resort Đà Nẵng. Photo courtesy of Furama Resort

“The relationship between Việt Nam and Japan is seen as the best it has ever been and I'm so happy with expanding friendship ties of Đà Nẵng City and other locals of Japan.

"The friendship ties of Japan and Việt Nam, which was built from foundation of the two states and provinces, will develop deeper in the future.”

The city’s party secretary, Nguyễn Văn Quảng said the visit would help promote the Japan-Việt Nam relationship and relationship with Đà Nẵng.

Quảng hoped Crown Prince Akishino would help boost friendship and cooperation ties among Đà Nẵng and other provinces in Japan in the future.

During the tour, Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko visited the UNESCO-recognised world heritage sites – Hội An ancient town and Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Quảng Nam – and met with the Japanese community in Việt Nam and Vietnamese doctors – who studied in Japan and working at Đà Nẵng Oncology Hospital.

Đà Nẵng inked memorandums of understanding on investment and cooperation with Yokohama, Kawasaki and Sakai and built relationships with 15 other cities in Japan including Yokohama, , Mitsuke, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Okayama, Kobe, Yaidu, Fukuoka và Ohtawara.

Japan tops the list of foreign direct investment projects in Đà Nẵng with 300 Japanese businesses operating with a total investment of US$932 million, creating 40,000 jobs for local and neighbouring provinces.

Đà Nẵng and Hội An have hosted the annual Việt Nam-Japan Culture Exchanges since 2013.

Japanese experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have been supporting Hội An City in Quảng Nam by restoring the iconic Japanese Bridge in the Old Quarter of Hội An.

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko walk through the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site of Hội An ancient town. Photo courtesy of Quảng Nam People's Committee

Japanese businesses had received 300 students from Đà Nẵng-based Đông Á University to work and study in Japan between 2021-22, while more than 2,000 students have been studying Japanese at the university to serve the Japanese labour market.

Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary -- a world heritage site recognised by UNESCO -- was visited by Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. Photo courtesy of Quảng Nam People's Committee

Hội An ancient town annually host the reenactment of the 17th-century wedding procession held for Princess Ngọc Hoa and Japanese businessman Araki Sotaro – as a major focus of the annual Japan-Việt Nam Cultural Day.

Local people in Hội An still preserve three tombs of Japanese traders who died in Hội An in the 17th century in Cẩm Châu Commune. VNS