Practical activities of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Nghe An province.
The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Nghe An Province (a member of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Nghe An Province) was established on August 1, 2008; it now has over 110 members, mostly retirees who have had some degree of contact with Japanese partners during their time working there. Over the past nearly five years, the Association has created many innovative activities aimed at strengthening and developing Vietnam-Japan friendship in Nghe An.
(Baonghean)The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Nghe An Province (a member of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Nghe An Province) was established on August 1, 2008; it now has over 110 members, mostly retirees who have had some degree of contact with Japanese partners during their time working there. Over the past nearly five years, the Association has created many innovative activities aimed at strengthening and developing Vietnam-Japan friendship in Nghe An.
Over the past nearly five years, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Nghe An province has actively worked to achieve practical results through engaging with non-governmental organizations and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam; brokering and facilitating visits by the Association and leaders of Vinh City to Japan; initially helping Japan better understand the country and people of Nghe An; and contributing to promoting the development of friendship between the governments and people of the two countries.
The Vietnam-Japan Association of Nghe An province has proactively seized opportunities to establish economic, cultural, and social cooperation with Japanese non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In recent years, the Association has forged relationships with five Japanese organizations: the Japan-Vietnam Bridge Association (VJBB), the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association, the Peace Without Borders Association, the Japan Foundation, and the Welfare Association for People with Disabilities in Okayama Prefecture. These NGOs have come to Nghe An not only in the spirit of solidarity and friendship, but have also implemented many programs and projects, contributing to improving people's lives and alleviating poverty. To date, we have received 700 manual wheelchairs for people with disabilities, implemented a high-tech clean vegetable farming project in four suburban communes of Vinh City, and carried out a clean water project in Nam Thanh commune, Nam Dan district…
The Vietnam-Japan Association has achieved such encouraging initial results because the Executive Committee has worked with great dedication. The role of the Standing Committee members is particularly noteworthy. The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Du (formerly the Director of the Department of Transportation, now retired), has always been proactive, proposing solutions that are relevant to the actual situation and employing creative organizational methods. He has put much thought into advising the Union and provincial leaders on the implementation of the 2013 Japanese Cultural Week in Nghe An.
Mr. Phan Khuyen, Vice Chairman and Head of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Vinh City, is over 85 years old but remains passionately involved in the Association's work. It can be said that the achievements of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Nghe An province are inseparable from Mr. Phan Khuyen's role; for example, his contribution was instrumental in connecting and fostering relations with the Welfare Association for the Disabled in Okayama Province, Japan, which brought nearly 700 manual wheelchairs to Vinh City. He also undertook the task of compiling the first newsletter of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Nghe An province, dedicating considerable effort to collecting and gathering materials.
Despite his advanced age and limited health, he and his colleagues once traveled to Quynh Luu and Quy Hop, places where Japan had invested in Nghe An, to gather images and materials for articles… While still serving as Director of the Department of Transport, Mr. Nguyen Hong Ky still dedicated time to fulfilling his role as Permanent Vice Chairman of the Association. Since friendship associations do not receive state funding and all activities are self-funded, Mr. Ky mobilized businesses in the industry to support and provide material resources for the Association's operations.
With its initial achievements and the responsible and dedicated leadership of its leaders, the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Nghe An province will undoubtedly continue to bring about even more practical results, contributing to the further strengthening of the friendship between the people of Vietnam and Japan.
Ngo Xuan Phung (Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association of Nghe An Province)