During the meeting, Gen. Giang thanked Sasakawa Yohei and Sasakawa Peace Foundation for their concern and contribution to promoting Vietnam-Japan relations, including defense cooperation. He highly appreciated the contribution of the foundation and its Chairman to countries in the region, including Vietnam, especially in the fields of connection, exchange, and international cooperation, and support of the vulnerable in society through such meaningful programs as building schools for children in remote areas and ethnic minorities and providing artificial limbs and wheelchairs for people with disabilities.
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Gen. Phan Van Giang receives Honorary Chair of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation Sasakawa Yohei. |
The Vietnamese Defense Minister wished the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and its Chairman would continue to pay attention to implementing cooperation and support activities with Vietnam in the fields of education, healthcare, environment, and human resource training, especially in helping people with disabilities, wounded and sick soldiers, and victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
The host added that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense welcomes defense exchange forms between the two sides, including the exchange for Vietnamese and Japanese field-grade officers, and will continue to facilitate the program, making active contribution to the bilateral defense ties.
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An overview of the meeting |
At the event, the guest briefed the host on the foundation’s cooperation activities with Vietnam over the past time and affirmed the effective implementation of those cooperation activities and programs. The Honorary Chair of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation hoped for more cooperation and support activities in all fields in the future. Regarding the bilateral defense ties, he agreed to expand exchange activities for company-grade officers of the two militaries in the future.
Founded in 1986 to strengthen international cooperation, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation has received support from the Japanese Government and Parliament. The foundation has participated in many international activities to support many Asian countries such as India, Korea, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
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The Vietnamese Defense Minister hands over a souvenir to the Honorary Chair of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. |
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Gen. Giang, the Honorary Chair of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, and delegates in a joint photo |
Since 2014, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation has supported the organization of the Vietnam-Japan Field-Grade Officers Exchange Program. Over the past ten years, six delegations of Vietnamese officers have been to Japan, and six delegations of Japanese officers visited Vietnam.
Translated by Tran Hoai