Ho Duc Viet, member of the Political Bureau and chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation and Personnel made the statement at the opening ceremony of the event held at the International Exchange Centre in Osaka, Japan on September 16.

Mr Viet emphasised that over the past 35 years, Vietnam-Japan relations have developed well in all fields and both countries are striving to build a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia as agreed by high-ranking officials of the two countries. Apart from achievements in socio-economic development in recent years, the promotion of cultural and art exchanges between Vietnam and Japan has made the friendship between the two countries become ever closer.

After the opening ceremony, more than 2,000 audiences in Osaka enjoyed an art programme featuring traditional cultural identities of 54 ethnic groups with the participation of Vietnamese famous artists such as Kasim Hoang Vu, and other singers from theNam Dong Ke (Five Lines) band. A fashion show of Vietnamese traditional dress (Ao dai) from famous designers Vu Viet Trung and Sy Hung was also held during the event.

The same day, more than 60 oil and lacquer paintings from Vietnamese famous painters including Tran Van Can, Nguyen Sang and Nguyen Van Ty are being exhibited at the International Exchange Centre in Osaka. The exhibition aims to introduce photos and pictures about Vietnam’s land and people.