Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem on October 16 received Japan-Vietnam Special Ambassador Sugi Ryotaro, who is in Hanoi to attend a national film-making contest for Vietnamese students.

The Deputy PM praised Ambassador Sugi’s practical contributions to developing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Japan , especially in culture and the arts, as well as his humanitarian activities in Vietnam .

For his part, Ambassador Sugi promised to make more contributions to developing people-to-people and cultural exchange as well as strengthening mutual understanding and trust between the two countries.

At the end of the reception, Deputy PM Khiem relayed to Sugi the Vietnamese government’s decision to confer the title “Vietnam-Japan Special Ambassador” on him./.