Ha Long – The northern province of Quang Ninh celebrated the opening of the Hokkaido Festival in Ha Long city on the evening of November 17. The three-day festival commemorates the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations and is a manifestation of the exchange and cooperation agreement between Quang Ninh and Hokkaido.

According to Vietnam News Agency, acting Chairman of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee, the festival holds significant value, symbolizing the solidarity and friendship between the two regions. He emphasized that the event plays a crucial role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust among the people of Quang Ninh and Hokkaido. The festival also opens doors for further cooperation, contributing significantly to the strengthening and deepening of the Vietnam-Japan intensive strategic partnership.

Hokkaido Governor Suzuki Naomichi remarked on the established exchange and cooperation ties between the Japanese prefecture and Vietnamese partners across various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, environment, and information technology. He expressed his hope that the festival would increase Vietnamese interest in Hokkaido, encouraging more people to visit, study, and work there. Naomichi also shared his aspirations for the future achievements of the relationship between the two countries and particularly between Quang Ninh and Hokkaido.

Themed ‘Quang Ninh- Hokkaido: Rich Cultural Integration’, the festival has successfully drawn thousands of locals and tourists. The event features a wide array of activities, including a Quang Ninh – Japan investment promotion conference, exhibitions of Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine, street art performances, workshops on cultural-tourism ties and human resource development, and the inauguration of a Japanese culture and language center at Ha Long University.