The 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Alumni Club of Youth Friendship (VACYF) and the 25th year of cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese youths was celebrated in Hanoi on December 23.

JICA representatives in Vietnam presente flowers to congratulate the event

The event was held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee, the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam (NCYV) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In his remarks, Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan praised the VACYF’s activities which, he said has served as a bridge boosting comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

HCYU First Secretary Nguyen Anh Tuan highlighted the sound Vietnam – Japan cooperative relations between the two countries as a contribution to fostering friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Year 1995 marked the start of cooperation between the HCYU, NCYV and Japanese partners with the signing of an agreement with JICA Vietnam on the Friendship Youth Programme for the 21st century, Tuan said, adding that over the last 25 years, youth cooperation projects between the two nations have been constantly expanded.

He applauded several outstanding programmes, such as the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP), the World Youth Alliance Asia-Pacific (WYAAP) Summer Camp, and an exchange programme between young politicians, which provide participants with an opportunity to explore knowledge and skills in a multitude of areas and get to know more about Vietnam, Japan and their cultures.