The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association’s chapter in southern Vinh Long province convened its first congress on November 11 to set forth its tasks for the 2014-2019 tenure.

The congress elected an executive board including six members.

The chapter’s activities will focus on consolidating and developing the friendship and cooperation between Vinh Long and Japan, especially in the fields of economy, health, education, culture, tourism and science-technology.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Ron said that the establishment of the chapter marks a new development in people-to-people exchange between Japan and Vietnam in general and Vinh Long in particular.

Vinh Long is now home two Japanese businesses, namely Acecook Vietnam and Ajinomoto Vietnam . In 2011-2012 period, the province received more than 7 billion VND (340,000USD) in non-refundable aid from Japan via rural clean water and disaster relief projects and programmes.-VNA