A wide range of activities were held during the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Week in central Hue city from September 9-14, spotlighting the friendship between the two countries.

The week was part of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan.

At the Hue Medical and Pharmacy University (HMPU), a photo exhibition displayed 70 works featuring Japan, the country and its people as well as Vietnam-Japan friendship.

The highlight of the event was the launching of a gastrointestinal endoscopy centre at the university, which was funded by Japan’s Nagoya University. The centre is expected to benefit thousands of patients in the central region.

According to Prof. Dr. Cao Ngoc Thanh, Rector of HMPU, the centre provides a good opportunity for the university to expand international cooperation, promote the exchanges in the fields of culture, training, research and technical transfer with Japanese partners.

During the week, the Hue city’s Teenage Activity Centre hosted several activities to introduce Japanese culture.

Do Thi My Chau, Deputy Director of the Thua Thien-Hue provincial Foreign Office and Chairman of the provincial Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association (VJFA) said in recent years, the province always worked together with Japanese localities to organise many socio-economic and cultural activities.

Japan has provided many supports for Hue city in restoring the ancient capital, training doctors and physicians, and developing clean water projects, Chau added.

In addition, Japan’s ancient cities and Hue have also organised many cultural exchanges, contributing to the friendship between the two countries in general and Hue city with Japan in particular.

The Vietnam-Japan Cultural Week were attended by representatives from Nagoya University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Kobe University, Osaka University, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam along with senior officials from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Health.-VNA