“The International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) has 9 country or region based Committees including the Japan – Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee. Each committee organizes seminars and other activities, mainly for its business members but not limited to them, to promote better understanding and smooth economic exchange and cooperation with the countries concerned. The Japan – Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee is the most active among the 9 committees,” said Mr Ken Matsuzawa, President of FEC, in an interview with Vietnam Business Forum. Nam Pham reports.
Over the past several years, FEC has sent delegations to Vietnam and also hosted welcome meetings when high ranking Vietnam government officials visited Japan. It seems FEC has a very close relationship with Vietnam. Could you tell us about the mission and activity of FEC?
FEC is a non-profit, non-governmental, international exchange organization established in 1983, for the cause of deepening international understanding and friendship. Our members consist of individual and corporate members who play significant roles in wide variety of fields, not only in economy but also culture, medical care, education, environment and energy. In addition, as one of our characteristics, we have many former Japanese diplomats, prefectural governors and nearly 100 foreign Ambassadors posted in Tokyo, as our honorary members.
For the purpose of enhancing people’s understanding of foreign countries and international relations, we host many meetings and invite both Japanese and foreign leaders and Ambassadors to make speeches. On 20 January, last year, we hosted a meeting for then Prime Minister Naoto Kan to deliver the foreign policy speech which was attended by some 600 people, including a large number of foreign Ambassadors. On 22 March, this year, we hosted an international forum “Toward Japan’s Reconstruction from the Great Earthquake; Cooperation from a Global Perspective”, on the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which was attended by a similar audience.
We issue the monthly FEC News bulletin reporting the views and activities of FEC and its members. The April issue this year carried an article on H. E. Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung’s views of the current status of Vietnam – Japan relations and his hopes for his tenure in Japan.
FEC has 9 country or region based Committees, including the Japan – Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee. Along with representatives of leading Japanese companies, former Japanese diplomats and scholars participate in the operation of the committees. Each committee organizes seminars mainly for its business members, but not limited to them, to promote better understanding and smooth economic exchange and cooperation with the countries concerned. The Japan – Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee is the most active among the 9 committees.
Specifically, what kind of activity do the members of the Japan-Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee engage in?
The Japan – Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee was established in October 2006, on the occasion, and with the presence, of H. E. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s first official visit to Japan, to enhance economic and cultural exchange between Japan and Vietnam. After the launching the committee, we have energetically engaged in many activities in cooperation with successive Vietnamese Ambassadors to Japan and the Embassy of Vietnam in Tokyo.
We have hosted many welcome meetings inviting Vietnam’s top government officials, including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2006, 2009 and 2011; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem in 2007; President Nguyen Minh Triet in 2007; Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong in 2008; Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in 2008; General Secretary of the Communist Party Nong Duc Manh in 2009; Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan in 2010; Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party Truong Tan Sang in June 2011; and Politburo Member To Huy Rua in May 2012.
In addition to the above guests, we welcomed some Cabinet Ministers as well as high ranking officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
We have sent FEC Delegations to Vietnam six times since 2006, and we have had opportunities to pay a courtesy visit to then President H. E. Nguyen Minh Triet, H. E. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and other high ranking officials. The latest Delegation with Mr Yoshihiko Nakagaki, Chairman of Japan-Vietnam Cultural and Economic Exchange Committee (Corporate advisor and Former President of J-Power), as the leader, visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in November last year and had fruitful exchanges of views with high-ranking government officials including H. E. President Truong Tan Sang and H. E. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. It was a meaningful opportunity for us to consider how we can promote the relationship between our two countries.
We have regular meetings with the Vietnamese Ambassador in Tokyo and discuss further cooperation between FEC and Vietnam.
In cooperation with the Embassy of Vietnam in Tokyo, we host the Joint Japan-Vietnam Economic Seminar, as a regular event, to deepen mutual understanding and resolve obstacles and problems in business between our two countries. Since February 2010, this seminar has been held five times on the occasion of high-ranking Vietnam official’s visits to Japan, such as then Minister of Planning and Investment H. E. Vo Hong Phuc and H. E. Deputy Minister Dang Huy Dong. In each seminar, many executives of Japanese companies attended and exchanged views on investment in Vietnam through a Q&A session.
When the 15 young leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam visited Japan in September 2010 to study Japan’s foreign policy and international relations with neighbouring countries as well as fostering of diplomats in Japan, we made all the necessary arrangements for the delegation upon the request from the Embassy of Vietnam.
In 2008, then President H. E. Nguyen Minh Triet awarded Chairman of FEC Dr. Chihiro Kanagawa (Chairman of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd) the Order of Friendship for the evaluation of our activities. For us, it was a quite honourable and good opportunity to reassert the significance of our efforts and relationship with Vietnam.
Many Japanese companies are members of FEC. How is their recent business in Vietnam going?
I would like to introduce 2 cases. Shin-Etsu Chemical, the company that Chairman Kanagawa of FEC also serves as Chairman, established a new Group company in Vietnam in January 2012 to manufacture packaging materials for high-brightness LEDs that are used for various lighting applications, and a new Group company that will carry out the separation and refinement of rare earths, which are the main raw material for the making of rare earth magnets. The start up of operations is scheduled for early 2013. Considering the strength of economic growth and the future potential of the region, Shin-Etsu Chemical expects that setting up the manufacturing and processing bases for core Shin-Etsu products in Vietnam will lead to the further expansion of demand in Vietnam and its neighbouring countries.
As for J-Power, the company where above mentioned Mr Nakagaki serves as Corporate Advisor, the relation between Vietnam and J-Power goes back to early 90’s, when the government of Japan re-started ODA to Vietnam. Since J-Power started consulting services to Ham Thuan Da Mi hydro project, a total of 26 consultancy businesses have been awarded to J-Power.
Since the establishment of a representative office in Hanoi in 2006, J-Power has been seeking investment opportunity in power projects.
Looking toward the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Vietnam next year, would you mind sharing about your coming events and plans to further boost the long-term cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and Japan?
Followed by FEC Delegation last year, we send a Delegation in early December this year. As usual, we would like to host the Joint Japan-Vietnam Economic Seminar, welcome meetings inviting Vietnam’s top government officials, and seminars inviting both Japanese and foreign professionals and Ambassadors as speakers. As for the rest, we are now in the process of formulating appropriate plans about which we would like to consult with H. E. Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung in due course.
Could you tell me your opinion and hope about FEC’s international exchange?
The basis of international exchange is “People’s Diplomacy”. It is widely thought that the Japanese government’s diplomatic power is weakening due to decline of its political power. What is expected of us now is to promote “People’s Diplomacy” and to complement Government Diplomacy. We are going to make an effort to respond to this expectation.
As I have stated, we have members in a wide variety of fields, not only in the field of economy but also culture, art and education. Therefore, we would like to disseminate not only our economy but also multiple aspects of Japan to the world.
To allow all the people on earth to enjoy the fruits of sustainable growth of Asia, we would like to cooperate with Vietnamese people and promote worldwide international exchange on the people’s level, working to create an environment for peace and prosperity in the Asia Pacific Region.
Vietnamese
