VUFO President receives the Hokkaido Friendship Parliamentary Alliance

(Vietpeace)On November 22, the delegation of the Hokkaido Friendship Parliamentary Alliance led by its Chairman Tsurube Isao was received by Mr. Vu Xuan Hong, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in Hanoi. Other members of the delegation were Mr. Taka Osamu, Deputy Governor of Hokkaido, Director of the Kushiro Coal Mining Company, Vietnam Honorary Consul in Hokkaido, and nearly 30 Japanese Parliamentary members and businessmen.

At the reception, Mr. Hong welcomed the delegation’s visit to VUFO. He said the foundation of the Hokkaido Friendship Parliamentary Alliance in June 2013 was a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries. All the Japanese provinces and prefectures will have friendship parliamentary alliances with Vietnam, laying firm foundation for development cooperation among the localities of the two countries, he expected.
Vietnam and Japan have entertained a reciprocal economic relationship, and can together do their best to address regional and world issues. Japan is a strategic partner and a friend accompanying with Vietnam in the process of country building. In many years, Japan is the biggest ODA donor to Vietnam. Japan’s ODA to Vietnam in 2013 reaches 500 million USD.
Chairman Vu Xuan Hong expressed his admiration to the Japanese people’s solidarity, mutual love and affection, and resilience in building the country as well as overcoming the consequences of earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
Mr. Takai Osamu, Deputy Governor of Hokkaido, shared his sympathy to severe losses caused by floods recently in the central provinces of Vietnam.
Mr. Takai Osamu said that the Hokkaido Friendship Parliamentary Alliance includes about 100 members. This is the first time an alliance can bring together all local  parliamentary members from various parties. He expresses his desire that the Hokkaido Friendship Parliamentary Alliance will have practical contributions to consolidating and promoting the friendship and cooperation between Japan and Vietnam.