Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has extended his best wishes to Vietnamese people in Canada and in the world on the occasion of Vietnam ’s Lunar New Year festival.

In his message delivered on Jan. 20, the Canadian leader expressed his hope that the Vietnamese will promote last year’s achievements as well as turn all wishes into reality in the new year.

The Prime Minister also encouraged Canadian people to join in OV’s New Year activities in order to understand more about Vietnamese culture.

There are now about 260,000 Overseas Vietnamese living in Canada .

Also on Jan. 20, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan held a ceremony to welcome the Lunar New Year of Vietnam.

Participants included Japan ’s former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, President of Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Tsutomu Takebe and representatives of Japanese organisations and businesses, as well as Vietnamese people in Japan .

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung expressed delight at the positive results of Vietnam-Japan political, diplomatic, economic and educational cooperation, affirming that the embassy will do its utmost to develop the two countries’ cooperation.

New Year greeting ceremonies were also held in France , the US , Russia and India. /.