The community of 6 million overseas Vietnamese is an important resource helping Vietnam develop.

Cộng đồng 6 triệu kiều bào là nguồn lực quan trọng giúp Việt Nam phát triển - 1 — Delegates attending the event (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs ).

On the morning of October 6, at the Fukuoka International Exhibition Center, Japan, the opening ceremony of the "2nd Overseas Vietnamese Economic Forum - Connecting localities and businesses of Vietnam - Kyushu: Substantive - Effective - Sustainable" took place.

The program was organized by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka in coordination with the Kyushu Economic Federation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic relations (1973-2023).

The event aims to promote cooperation between localities, Vietnamese enterprises, Vietnamese entrepreneurs globally and Kyushu in areas where the two sides have potential and complementary strengths.

The program was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs , Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Le Thi Thu Hang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to Japan Pham Quang Hieu, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture Hattori Seitaro, Chairman of the Fukuoka Prefecture Council Kohara Katsuji, and leaders of the Kyushu Economic Federation.

The event was attended by 400 delegates including leaders and representatives of Vietnamese localities, Vietnamese and Kyushu enterprises, and overseas Vietnamese enterprises from 20 countries and territories around the world.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang highly appreciated the initiative of organizing the Forum by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka.

This is a practical and meaningful event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Japan diplomatic relations, a relationship that has gone through centuries of people-to-people exchange and half a century of cooperation, and is developing strongly and comprehensively in all fields.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that when Vietnam faces the fundamental challenge of transforming its development model towards a more sustainable and balanced direction, promoting comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in general and Kyushu in particular is not only about exchanging goods, attracting investment, transferring technology, or cultural exchange.

Through the above forms of cooperation, the Vietnamese side can absorb Kyushu's philosophy of harmonious development and creatively apply it to localities in many fields.

The Deputy Minister hopes that Vietnam and Japan in general and Vietnam - Kyushu in particular will become models of partnership for development on the basis of effectively implementing investment cooperation frameworks and projects.

The areas in which the parties cooperate include trade, high-tech agriculture, labor, human resource training, climate change response, green growth, new-generation ODA, strategic infrastructure, food security and energy transition.

On the other hand, the Deputy Minister also believes that, with many complementary advantages, Vietnam has been, is and will be part of the solution to the problem of finding growth momentum for the Japanese and Kyushu economies.

The overseas Vietnamese community of nearly 6 million Vietnamese people is living, working and studying in over 130 countries and territories, including many successful businessmen and intellectuals in other countries.

According to Ms. Hang, these are important resources for Vietnam's development, and are also potential partners for Japanese and international businesses.

Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Hattori Seitaro, Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture, said that the Forum is a positive contribution to the exchange, connection and development of Fukuoka after the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Seitaro said that Fukuoka businesses are very interested in the Vietnamese market.

According to a survey conducted by the province's investment promotion agency, Vietnam ranks second among foreign markets that Fukuoka businesses are interested in and want to seek investment opportunities.

Governor Hattori Seitaro hopes that the Forum will be an opportunity for Vietnamese and Kyoto businesses to connect and seek cooperation opportunities, thereby increasing Vietnam's investment in Kyushu and vice versa.

Ms. Vu Chi Mai, Consul General of Vietnam in Fukuoka, emphasized that the theme of the forum "Connecting localities and Vietnamese - Fukuoka businesses: Substantive - Effective - Sustainable" is also the wish of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka and the Fukuoka provincial government.

This will be a sustainable bridge for localities and businesses of the two countries, including the Vietnamese business community in Japan, to strengthen connections and promote trade in a practical and effective manner.

Previously, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and leaders of Vietnamese localities met with the Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture and, together with delegates attending the Forum, visited booths displaying and introducing products of localities and enterprises of Vietnam - Kyushu.

In the afternoon of the same day, the Forum continued with plenary sessions and thematic sessions.

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