The young generation plays an important force in promoting the Vietnam-Japan friendship in the present and in the future. The role of the forerunners is to create opportunities for young people of the two countries to exchange, and make friends. Hiroyuki Ogawa, general secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Association said that when talking to the Vietnam Times about a number of activities the Association will implement in 2023 on the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Performance in the 18th "Hoi An - Japan Cultural Exchange" program, held in Hoi An ancient town. Photo: KT

In June, the Japan-Vietnam Association will hold a seminar in Tokyo, Japan, to guide Vietnamese workers on how to integrate and work in Japan. The seminar was attended by former Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio, and representatives of a number of Japanese enterprises that recruit Vietnamese workers.

In early August, there will also be a cultural exchange event between the two countries in Tokyo. At the event, Japanese people will sing Vietnamese songs, and Vietnamese people will make Soba noodles, a traditional Japanese dish.

The common point of the events is to focus on the exchange between the young generations of the two countries.

Why does the Association focus on exchange activities of the young generation?

Previous generations laid the foundation for connecting people-to-people relations between the two countries. The young generation is the force that plays a pivotal role in developing the relationship between the two countries in the present and in the coming periods. The organization of exchange activities aims to help young people of the two countries meet, exchange and increase mutual understanding.

The relationship between Vietnam and Japan over the past 50 years had a close and strong attachment. The Vietnamese community in Japan is increasingly large, including many forces and social classes such as businessmen, workers, international students, interns.

Many Japanese also chose Vietnam as a place to live, study, and work. However, the majority of Vietnamese and Japanese people only live in their own communities and have not opened up their exchanges with the host communities.

Compared to the previous generation, communication between the young people of the two countries today is much more convenient. Therefore, it is even more necessary to promote exchanges.

Hiroyuki Ogawa, general secretary of the Japan-Vietnam Association. Photo: Thu Ha

What role will the predecessors play in supporting the younger generation?

The role of the forerunners is to create exchange opportunities for young people. We organized a program to bring students from some Vietnamese universities to practice at Japanese universities.

Vietnamese students had the opportunity to visit and learn the technology of raising seafood in tanks instead of in the sea. From there, they had more understanding about the development of Japanese technology, referring to the deployment and development in Vietnam.

Vietnam from a country heavily affected by the war has risen to become a dynamic developing country in the region. Young Vietnamese people live with dreams and expectations. I hope the Japanese friends learn about Vietnam's history, see their efforts to motivate themselves. We will cooperate with a number of universities in Vietnam, organize short exchange courses, create opportunities for young Japanese to experience.

I have been to Vietnam 109 times. In the first 20 times, I am happy to visit Vietnam. The next 20 times, I am happy because I have more Vietnamese friends. In the following times, I am aware of my responsibility in contributing to supporting and promoting the exchange of young generations of the two countries.

Long Pham / Vietnamtimes