Crown Prince Naruhito inspects classes at Japanese school in Vietnam

During his state visit to Vietnam, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan visited a Japanese school in Ho Chi Minh City.The Crown Prince inspected an English conversation lesson for second-year elementary school children and an integrated studies class for first-year junior high school students on Friday.

The friendly contact between the Vietnam and Japan is no matter of course: in 1991, the two countries re-established diplomatic relations. Before that date, Japan had imposed economic restrictions upon Vietnam as it had strongly opposed the Soviet-backed Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in December 1978. Today, Japan is the single biggest country donor to Vietnam. It has pledged $US890 million in aid for the country this year, 6.5 percent higher than the 2006 level of $US835.6 million.

Vietnam joined in 1995 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a geo-political and economic organization of 10 countries located in Southeast Asia. Its aims include the acceleration of economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, the protection of the peace and stability of the region, and to provide opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully. The organization hosts as well cultural activities in an attempt to further integrate the region.

Considering this context, it is hardly surprising that the Japanese school in Ho Chi Minh City that the Crown Prince visited opened in April 1997. During his visit, Prince Naruhito encouraged the pupils to not isolate themselves but to interact with Vietnamese children in order to create better mutual understanding. He also visited the Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Cooperation Center established in the city with the aim of human resources development. Read an article from The Mainichi Daily News.

Filed under Japan
Tagged Bilateral Relations, Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan, Education, Official Visit, Vietnam.