A Vietnam-Japan friendship and cultural exchange took place in northern Ninh Binh province on December 20 to mark the 35th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Present at the event were the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO)’s President Vu Xuan Hong, Ninh Binh provincial officials, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Mitsuo Sakaba and representatives of the Japan-Vietnam cultural exchange centre in Hachioji and Tokyo cities.

The Vice chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Tien Thanh, said Ninh Binh wants to promote relations with Japanese localities.

The Japanese ambassador promised to work hard to increase cultural exchange between the two countries at different levels.

Participants watched demonstrations of the Japanese flower arrangement technique Ikebana and tea ceremony and artists from both countries performed their folk songs and dances.