Nearly 70 booths introducing ASEAN member states’ traditional cuisines and handicrafts are on display at the ASEAN festival 2013 in Yokohama city, Japan.

Live music, fashion performances from South-east Asian countries are also featured at the festival.

The festival, the first of its kinds, aimed to mark the 40 th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship relation.
Vietnam joined the festival with several stalls featuring typical Vietnamese dishes, handicraft products as well as trade promotion information.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Yoichiro Aoyagi, member of Japan’s House of Representatives, said the festival offers a chance for Japanese people to learn more about ASEAN’s fascinating culture.

He said he hopes it will become an annual event contributing to enhancing the mutual understanding between the two sides.

The two-day event is expected to lure around 80,000 visitors.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA