A ceremony was held in Japan on September 14 to honour Japanese friends for their contributions to promoting Vietnam-Japan relationship, as part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

On behalf of the Vietnamese President, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh awarded a Friendship Medal and a certificate of merit to former Senator Matsuda Iwao and Representative Yochiro Aoyagi, respectively, in recognition of their active cooperation with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan to organise the Vietnam Festival 2013.

He also praised Matsuda for furthering scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Matsuda affirmed that he will make every effort to nurture the friendship and close relationship between the two peoples, adding that he hopes both sides will better understand each other through exchange activities.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Minh also presented a Prime Minister’s certificate of merit to Most Venerable Yoshimizu Daichi at Nisshinkutsu pagoda in Tokyo, thanking him for his support to Vietnamese expatriates in Japan, especially during the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.-VNA