Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh made the statement at a reception for the Vietnam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador, Sugi Ryotaro, in Hanoi on November 1.

Sugi Ryotaro, who doubles as Japan-Vietnam Goodwill Ambassador, said his visit to Vietnam focuses on the organising of a film making contest for Vietnamese students on November 3. The finalists will be sent to Japan for a competition that will be open to both Japanese and Vietnamese in December.

The ambassador asked his host for help to organise the contest and following competition, as well as cultural activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations next year.

Sugi Ryotaro was appointed by the Vietnamese Government as Vietnam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador on May 22, 2007, becoming the first foreigner to be nominated to the post.

The goodwill ambassador is widely known in Vietnam for being instrumental in establishing the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Association in 1991 and the Japanese Language Centre in 1995. He has also donated buses, ambulances and medicine to a number of Vietnamese organisations and has sponsored 20 Vietnamese orphans.

Sugi Ryotaro supported the "Illiteracy Elimination Programme in Vietnam" in his capacity as a Special Ambassador of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

In recognition of his contributions, former State President Tran Duc Luong awarded Sugi Ryotaro the “Friendship Medal” in 1997.