Politics

Japanese crown princes in Vietnam to mark 50 years of ties

Tokyo, Sep 20 (EFE).- Japan’s Prince Fumihito and his wife Kiko left Wednesday for Vietnam for a six-day official visit on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries with which they seek to strengthen ties.

The princes of Akishino, the title by which they are formally called in the country, will arrive Wednesday in Hanoi, where they will be received with a ceremony led by Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan.

They plan to visit former Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum Thursday and later attend a welcome ceremony by the country’s vice president and a commemorative event for the diplomatic anniversary.

The trip marks the third visit of Fumihito, younger brother of the current Emperor Naruhito and first in the line of succession, and the second of Kiko to Vietnam, a country with “a very close relationship” to Japan and to whose strengthening it aspires to contribute.

“I will be happy if I can contribute to the promotion of the friendly relationship between both countries,” said the prince, adding that he is glad that the remission of the Covid-19 pandemic has made this type of travel possible again. “I think it is important to maintain a good relationship between the two countries.”

During the trip to Vietnam, the Akishino princes will visit the UNV Vietnam Japan University, attend an opera performance and will travel Sunday to the tourist cities of Da Nang and Hoi An, which used to house a neighborhood of Japanese residents.

That same day, the eve of their return to Japan, they will visit the ruins of My Son, a world heritage site.

Japan’s crown princes are also expected to meet Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, according to details of his agenda published by local news agency Jiji.

It is the couple’s third official trip since Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne in May 2019. EFE

mra-yk/lds

Related Articles

Back to top button