President Vo Van Thuong and his wife meet the Japanese Emperor and Empress in Tokyo, November 28, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

President Thuong, on behalf of the State and the people of Vietnam, thanked the Emperor and Empress and other members of the Japanese royal family for their warm sentiments and deep concern for the people of Vietnam, as well as for the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan over the years.

He said that the historic visit to Vietnam in 2017 by the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita during their reign as Emperor and Empress, the official visit in 2009 by the Emperor as Crown Prince, and the visit in September by Crown Prince Akishino and the Princess left a profound impression on the Vietnamese leaders and people, contributing to deepening mutual trust and understanding between the two countries.

The Emperor and Empress said that long-standing connections and exchanges, cultural similarities, and shared human values, are fundamental factors for the deep and tightly-knit relationship between Vietnam and Japan today.

The same day, President Vo Van Thuong attended a ceremony to celebrate 50 years of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations.