The Prime Minister expressed the affirmation at a meeting in Ha Noi on July 18 with Masayuki Yamauchi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Culture to the Japanese Prime Minister.

He said Viet Nam considers culture a spiritual foundation of society in its development strategy. Therefore, the selective acquisition from world culture will play a critical part in building Vietnamese culture while maintaining national identities, he added.

The Government leader noted that similarities Viet Nam and Japan share could serve as a basis to further enrich cultural resources for the respective side.

The host applauded the five principles in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s foreign policy towards Southeast Asian countries, in which, facilitating cultural cooperation is highlighted in the fourth principle.

Prime Minister Dung said that he hopes Masayuki Yamauchi in his role as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Culture to the Japanese Prime Minister will foster exchanges and cooperation between the two sides’ cultural agencies, assisting Vietnam in training experts and lobbying more financial funds to help Viet Nam preserve tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites.

He also expressed his delight at the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan, which have been moving forward in a practical manner, especially after their bilateral ties that were lifted to a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

For his part, Masayuki Yamauchi, who is also an honorary professor at Tokyo University, briefed the host on the outcomes of his working session with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh.

He said recent cultural exchanges between the two countries, including the popularisation of Japanese, will help elevate mutual understanding, acting as a catalyst for stronger cooperation in other areas such as economics, trade, investment, science and technology.

The guest confirmed that he will do his utmost to broaden cultural cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan via a series of two-way activities on a basis of mutual respect and understanding.