(VOVworld) – Various activities are underway to mark the 40^th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties on September 21. On Friday night, Vu Xuan Hong, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, presented the Friendship Order to Furuta Motoo, President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association, the Union’s badges for  “Peace and friendship between nations” and certificates of merits to Japanese individuals and organizations for their active contributions to strengthening the friendship between the Vietnamese and Japanese people.  Furuta Motoo, President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association, pledged to do his utmost to help boost people-to-people diplomacy.
Meanwhile, on Friday in Hanoi, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan received delegates to the Vietnam-Japan friendship festival. She said friendship organizations of Vietnam and Japan should take more initiatives in organizing activities to promote mutual understanding and strategic partnership between the two countries.

On Saturday Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) broadcast a 3-hour special program entitled “Vietnam-Japan: the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia” from 2 to 5pm.  Guests were representatives from the Japanese embassy in Vietnam, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association Nghiem Vu Khai and experst from both countries.