Also attending the working session were leaders from the Viet Nam National Tourism Administration, the Department of International Cooperation, the Viet Nam Sports Authority, the Department of Science and Technology, Training and Environment, and the VTC Multimedia Communications Corporation. On the Japanese side were Mr. Watanabe Takakazu, Minister Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam; Ms. Sasaki Miho, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam, and other members of the delegation.
This visit further strengthens the robust cooperative relationship between the two countries in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism. On behalf of the Ministry's leadership, Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy welcomed the Japanese delegation and conveyed greetings from Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh to Mr. Takebe Tsutomu. The Vietnamese side highly appreciated Mr. Takebe's persistent efforts in promoting people-to-people exchanges, notably the Viet Nam Festival in Hokkaido, which has been held since 2019.
Besides artistic exchanges, cooperation in heritage preservation continues to be a highlight in bilateral relations. Support from Japanese agencies and experts has significantly contributed to the restoration and preservation of many national heritage sites in Viet Nam, such as the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the My Son Sanctuary, the Hoi An Bridge Pagoda, and the ancient villages of Duong Lam, Phuoc Tich, and Dong Hoa Hiep.
A new highlight of this cooperation program is the development orientation of the cultural industry and digital content. Viet Nam expressed its desire to learn from the "Cool Japan" model to enhance the effectiveness of promoting its culture to the world. To realize this goal, Viet Nam proposed strengthening connections with relevant Japanese agencies such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) on issues of copyright protection, technology transfer, and human resource training.
Specifically, to tap into the potential in the fields of games, anime, manga, webtoons, and esports, Viet Nam proposed supporting the connection between VTC Multimedia Corporation and leading Japanese entertainment corporations such as Sony, Nintendo, Konami, and Square Enix. In response to these proposals, Mr. Takebe Tsutomu pledged to hold detailed discussions with relevant ministries and organizations in Japan to create opportunities for cooperation between businesses of the two countries.
In the field of sports, both sides agreed to continue maintaining youth exchange programs, while focusing on training athletes and coaches, developing community sports and sports for people with disabilities. Strengthening sports and youth exchange programs also contributes to promoting people-to-people exchanges and consolidating friendly relations between the two countries.
In the tourism sector, the post-pandemic recovery is very promising, with Vietnam expected to welcome over 814,000 Japanese tourists in 2025 (a 14.4% increase), while Japan is projected to welcome nearly 678,500 Vietnamese tourists (a 9.2% increase). To achieve the goal of doubling the number of two-way tourists by 2030, both sides will maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, strengthen market promotion, accelerate digital transformation, and facilitate the opening of more direct flights connecting localities.
At the end of the meeting, both sides expressed their desire to further promote the cooperation contents discussed, leveraging the connecting role of agencies, organizations, and individuals to deepen the Viet Nam-Japan cooperation in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism.
Deputy Minister Trinh Thi Thuy and Mr. Takebe Tsutomu exchanged commemorative gifts, expressing friendship and appreciation for the relationship between the two sides. The working session concluded in a cordial atmosphere, contributing to strengthening exchanges, mutual understanding, and promoting cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan.
Huyen Trang