Nation looks to closer cultural ties with Japan

Viet Nam wants to beef up cooperation with Japan in culture, sports and tourism, and will closely coordinate with the country to organise cultural exchanges in the near future.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh made the statement while receiving the Viet Nam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador, Sugi Ryotaro, in Ha Noi on Nov. 1.
The minister spoke highly of Sugi Ryotaro’s positive contributions to deepening cultural ties between Viet Nam and Japan .
Sugi Ryotaro, who doubles as Japan-Viet Nam Goodwill Ambassador, said his visit to Viet Nam will focus on the organising of a film making contest for Vietnamese students on Nov. 3. The finalists will be sent to Japan for a competition that will be open to both Japanese and Vietnamese in December.
The ambassador asked his host for help to organise the contest and following competition, as well as cultural activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Japan-Viet Nam diplomatic relations next year. Japan will send an art troupe to perform in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City in May 2008, he added.
Sugi Ryotaro was appointed by the Vietnamese Government as Viet Nam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador on May 22, 2007, becoming the first foreigner to be nominated to the post.
The goodwill ambassador is widely known in Viet Nam for being instrumental in establishing the Japan-Viet Nam Cultural Exchange Association in 1991 and the Japanese Language Centre in 1995.
He has also donated buses, ambulances and medicine to a number of Vietnamese organisations and has sponsored 20 Vietnamese orphans.
Sugi Ryotaro also supported the "Illiteracy Elimination Programme in Viet Nam " in his capacity as a Special Ambassador of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
In recognition of his contributions, State President Tran Duc Luong awarded Sugi Ryotaro the “Friendship Medal” in 1997.Source: Vna