On February 22^nd, the People’s Committee of Bac Giang province held a ceremony of planting Japanese cherry trees given by Japan– Vietnam friendship association of Chukyo area, Japan.

Mr. Lai Thanh Son, Nguyen Sy Nhan and Mr. Jun Yanagi, Deputy Ambassador of Japanese Embassy to Vietnam planting cherry-blossom tree at Hoang Hoa Tham park (Bac Giang city)

Attending the ceremony, on behalf of Bac Giang province, there was Mr. Lai Thanh Son, Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial people’s committee (PPC); Mr. Tu Minh Hai, Vice Chairman of the provincial people’s council; Mr. Nguyen Sy Nhan, member of the managing board of the provincial party committee cum secretary of party committee of Bac Giang city and leaders of the people’s committee of Bac Giang city and some other departments, agencies and unions.

From Japanese side, Mr. Jun Yanagi, Deputy Ambassador of Japanese Embassy to Vietnam and Mr. Maeda Toshimichi, chairman of Japan – Vietnam friendship association of Chukyo area and its members, took part in the festival. The ceremony was also participated by representatives of ministry of Foreign Affairs and some Japanese enterprises operating in the province.

This is the sixth time cherry-blossom trees have been brought to be planted in Vietnam. So far, there have been about 3,000 cherry trees planted in Vietnam. In Bac Giang, this is the third continuous year the Japan – Vietnam friendship association of Chukyo area carrying out its cherry-blossom tree planting activity.  In 2015-2016, the Japan – Vietnam friendship association of Chukyo area gave and planted more than 300 cherry trees in 3-2 Square and the central park of the city which are currently growing well in Bac Giang. To respond the tree planting festival 2017 and continue that meaningful cultural activity, the Japan – Vietnam friendship association of Chukyo area presented 100 cherry-blossom trees more to Bac Giang province, raising total number of cherry trees in Bac Giang province to more than 400 ones. This is really a meaningful activity between Bac Giang province and Chukyo area, Japan.

Mr. Jun Yanagi, Deputy Ambassador of Japanese Embassy to Vietnam affirmed, the friendship between Japan and Vietnam has stepped into a new stage. He expected that Japanese cherry trees planted in the province would contribute to strengthening the cooperation and friendship between Japan and Vietnam, including Bac Giang province.

Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial people’s committee Lai Thanh Son (the left side) received 100 cherry trees from Japanese – Vietnamese Friendship Association of Chukyo area

Delivering speech at the ceremony, the PPC vice chairman Lai Thanh Son stressed that the cooperation and partnership between Vietnam and Japan had always been finely and strongly developed over the past years. He hoped the deputy ambassador continued to help Bac Giang province with advertising its images to attract Japanese enterprises to invest in the province. He confirmed that the province was willing to make the most favorable conditions for Japanese partners and citizens to come for business and investment here. The standing vice chairman affirmed Japanese cherry tree would be well cared, developed and blossom in Bac Giang province which symbolizes the friendly relations between the government and people of the two countries in general, Bac Giang province in particular. 

The PPC standing vice chairman Lai Thanh Son (on the right side) warmly the deputy Ambassador Jun Yanagi

Before the ceremony, Mr. Jun Yanagi, deputy ambassador of Japanese Embassy to Vietnam and members of the Japanese – Vietnamese friendship association of Chukyo area paid a courtesy call on Mr. Lai Thanh Son, the PPC standing vice chairman at the PPC Office. At the meeting, the deputy ambassador expressed his thanks for the solemn reception of the provincial leaders and showed his happiness when many Japanese enterprises had been working effectively in Bac Giang province. It proved that the province had been building a good relationship with Japanese partners.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Tran Lan 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Trần Lan