Opening of the Vietnam Festival in Sapporo, Japan

On September 6, as part of his official visit to Japan, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang attended the opening ceremony of the 4th Vietnam Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

The event was joined by leaders and delegates from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, alongside representatives from Japan, including Hokkaido Vice Governor Mitsuhashi Tsuyoshi, the city of Sapporo, the Hokkaido Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as numerous businesses from both countries.

In his opening remarks, Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang emphasized that the Vietnam Festival in Sapporo is far more than a cultural and artistic event. It serves as a vivid demonstration of the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and Japan, and stands as a meaningful symbol of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” that the two countries are jointly fostering.

He underscored that throughout the festival, the people of Japan, together with international friends, will have a chance to immerse themselves in the richness of Vietnamese culture. This includes discovering the diversity of traditional cuisine, enjoying the beauty of folk music, and appreciating the craftsmanship of delicate handicraft products - all of which reflect not only the cultural heritage but also the warmth, friendliness, and hospitality of the Vietnamese people.

The Acting Minister also expressed his deep appreciation that the festival was being held in Hokkaido - a region renowned for its cultural traditions, pristine natural beauty, and profound cooperative ties with Vietnam. He underlined that Hokkaido has long been a destination for Vietnamese students, trainees, and workers, while at the same time serving as a close partner of Vietnam across key areas such as agriculture, fisheries, education, and tourism.

He further noted that collaboration between Hokkaido and various Vietnamese localities, including Quang Ninh, has continued to expand in recent years. This is made evident through joint initiatives in trade and investment promotion, cultural and tourism exchanges, as well as agricultural cooperation. Such cooperation, he stressed, is not limited to the national level but is flourishing at the local level, thereby bringing practical and meaningful benefits to the people and businesses of both sides.

“Hokkaido is home to a community of around 12,000 Vietnamese who are living, studying, and working here, which demonstrates the strong people-to-people ties between our two nations. The Vietnam-Japan relationship has been nurtured not only through government-to-government cooperation, but also through the bonds of our peoples.

Through this festival, I believe we will find more opportunities to deepen mutual understanding, share experiences, and expand cooperation, particularly in cultural exchanges, tourism, education and training, green agriculture, and sustainable development,” he said.

On this occasion, the Acting Minister extended his gratitude to the Hokkaido authorities, the city of Sapporo, relevant Japanese agencies, and the Vietnamese community in Japan for their joint efforts in organizing the festival and for their contributions to building and strengthening the friendship between Hokkaido and Vietnam.

He also conveyed a message to the young generation and the Vietnamese community in Japan: “You are the true ‘people’s ambassadors’ - a vital bridge connecting our two nations. With your dynamism, creativity, and love for the homeland, you will continue to bring Vietnam-Japan relations closer, stronger, and more effective.”

Mr. Mitsuhashi Tsuyoshi, Vice Governor of Hokkaido, expressed his pleasure in welcoming Acting Minister Tran Duc Thang and the Vietnamese leaders and delegates to the event. He affirmed that Hokkaido will continue to promote cooperation with Vietnamese localities, create more opportunities for Vietnamese skilled workers and technical interns to work in the prefecture, and further expand joint human resource training programs.

Appreciating the contributions of the Vietnamese community in Hokkaido, the Vice Governor expressed his hope to welcome even more Vietnamese to live, study, and work in the prefecture, while reaffirming Hokkaido’s commitment to supporting the Vietnamese community.

He also emphasized that Hokkaido will maintain and develop cultural and people-to-people exchanges in order to strengthen friendship, solidarity, and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.