Welcoming the guests, Secretary of the Da Nang municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang said that their visit coincides with various activities being held to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan.

He noted with satisfaction the growing ties between Vietnam and Japan over the past years, including cooperation between Da Nang and Japanese localities.

According to the official, Da Nang has so far established friendly and cooperation relations with four Japanese localities - Kawasaki, Sakai, Yokohama and Kisarazu. It has also developed cooperation projects with 15 other Japanese prefectures and cities.

Local cooperation between Da Nang and Japanese localities is a major pillar in Da Nang’s foreign affairs, stressed Quang, who expressed his hope through the visit, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess would help further promote the friendly and cooperative relationship between the two countries in general, and between Da Nang and Japanese partners and localities in particular.

Crown Prince Akishino said this is his third visit to Vietnam and the first to Da Nang which has impressed him with beautiful landscapes through stories he has heard about. That was why he has chosen Da Nang as one of his destinations during the Vietnam trip this time, he explained.

The Crown Prince affirmed that the relations between Vietnam and Japan are developing strongly at various levels, including cooperation between their localities and peoples.

He said he was happy to know that Da Nang has developed cooperation relations with many Japanese localities. He expressed his belief that foreign relations between Vietnam and Japan, as well as between Da Nang and Japanese localities would be further enhanced in the coming time.

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko arrived in Hanoi on September 21, beginning their six-day visit to Vietnam.

Source: VOV