First activities of Japanese Emperor, Empress in Hanoi

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko began the first State visit to Vietnam with a meeting with volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on late February 28.

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko began the first State visit to Vietnam with a meeting with volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on late February 28.

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko meet JICA volunteers at Sheraton Hotel

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko met volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on late February 28 shortly after they arrived in Hanoi for a State visit to Vietnam.

The Emperor and Empress asked JICA volunteers about their work and life in Vietnam as well as their aspirations.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko expressed their hope that the volunteers will fulfill the duties in whatever positions they hold.

The JICA volunteers, who work in a wide range of activities such as education, health care, tourism, investment promotion, and agriculture, said they love their jobs in Vietnam and want to share knowledge and experience to contribute to the local development.

They also highly valued the eagerness to learn and the hospitality of Vietnamese people.

The first-ever State visit to Vietnam until March 5 by the Japanese Emperor and Empress is a historic event in the two countries’ cooperation and friendship. It demonstrates Japan’s sentiment towards and attention to Vietnam, helping to enhance their extensive strategic partnership and mutual understanding which is also a wish of the two peoples.

The visit, made at the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse, is the first-ever trip to Vietnam by a Japanese Emperor and Empress.

Akihito came to the throne on January 7, 1989, and is the 125th emperor of Japan.

Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in September 1973 and elevated their ties to the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in March 2014.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the visit will be an important landmark in Vietnamese-Japanese relations. It is a manifestation of the development of bilateral ties and will bring the relationship to new heights.