Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, Nguyen Phu Binh said Nagoya is a major economic centre in central Japan and the expanded area of Nagoya accounts for 1 percent of global GDP. The appointment of Mr Yukihisa Hirano as the honorary consul is of great significance for promoting relations between the two countries, Mr Binh emphasised.

Under the Vietnamese Foreign Minister’s decision issued in September, two Japanese citizens were appointed honorary consuls. Mr Yukihisa is located in Nagoya city while Taro Nakajima, President of the Kushiro Coal Exploitation Company is located in Kushiro city in Hokkaido prefecture.

Mr Hirano said he would do his best to promote exchange activities with Vietnam especially when Vietnam Airlines has opened a direct air route from Centrair to Hanoi and HCM City.

Situated on Honshu island, Nagoya is the centre of Japan’s third biggest urban area in Chukyo with a total population of 8.74 million and an area of 326.45 km2.

Vietnam has now set up three diplomatic representative offices in Japan, including an embassy in Tokyo and two consulate generals in Osaka and Fukuoka.