Right from its inception, the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation has determined clear ideas and tasks throughout their development stage which is organising cultural exchanges between the two countries; the association will be a focal point to receive humanitarian assistance from Japan for remote areas and at same time, teach Japanese in Vietnam. This is considered a guide for the association to develop and implement. Mr Vu Khac Lien has been attached to the association right from the start-up and has a good understanding of each step of the development to this day.
2013 is the Vietnam - Japan friendship year; it marks the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. To find a better understanding of the cultural exchanges between the two countries over the recent years, I had a chance to meet with the Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation, Dr Vu Khac Lien.
He has reached the age of 80, but I can see a gentle smile in his face. Although he is getting older, his gestures and actions are very active. Our conversation seemed to have no place for a distance of two different generations, as he is the one who lived through the years of hardship and heroism of the country while I was born when the country entered a period of renovation.
It’s known that he is one of the founding members of the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation, since March 1992. Previously, he had worked at the Ministry of Culture – the then Ministry of Culture and Information, and served as Deputy Minister for 15 years, assisting 4 generations of ministers. However, I was quite surprised to find him open-minded, friendly and showing respect to the interviewer during the dialogue, not maintaining a superior attitude. At this age, he is still devoted to work and has no thought of rest. He said: "Working and living among friends are my greatest joys."
He has been attached to the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation for 20 years and now he is the chairman cum director of Nui Truc Japanese language centre. His desire is that the next generation will be better at Japanese, building a language bridge to bring the two nations and cultures closer together.
About cultural exchange between the two countries, during the recent time, the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation and Vietnam-Japan Cultural Association Foundation have organised many exciting activities such as: Performing arts; especially great occasion with fireworks held at Thong Nhat Park; the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations of the two countries with 500 Japanese performers, Hoan Kiem Lake march; cherry blossom festival 3 years in a row; the association also sent small art groups to exchange events in Japan which were welcomed by the Japanese people.
In humanitarian aid, when Vietnam was in difficulty, through the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Association Foundation, the Japan Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation contributed a lot to help disadvantaged areas. The drug company Shionogi granted nearly US$1 million in medicines for 14 hospitals in poor provinces, dozens of ambulances and firefighters were sent to Vietnam. Mr Sugi Ryotaro, Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation, also sponsored many schools for disadvantaged children, a primary school in ATK area was built by money contributed from an organization of Japan.
The most important thing shared by Mr Lien is that in the 1990s, as the country faced numerous difficulties, the Japanese side suggested opening a Japanese language centre in Vietnam. A class with 20 students and 2 Japanese teachers was opened in 1991, even before the establishment of the association. It was at that time Mr Keizo Obuchi, Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party and then Prime Minister of Japan, visited the classroom and encouraged the teachers. That action motivated the teachers and students in teaching and learning Japanese.
For more than 20 years, Nui Truc Japanese language centre has been a trusted address teaching Japanese in Hanoi, the centre now has more than 2,000 students.
Mr Lien said that the building of the centre was thanks entirely to the help from the Japanese side, especially Mr Sugi Ryotaro when he was Secretary General then chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association Foundation. He is Vietnam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador cum Japan-Vietnam Goodwill Ambassador. He has profound love for Vietnam; thanks to him, many projects have been proposed and implemented as: printing paper aid, motorcycles for disadvantaged; disadvantaged children care; music festival and the Sugi art award. Mr Sugi Ryotaro has made great contribution in the expansion of cultural ties between the two countries.
Thanks to the contributions of Mr Vu Khac Lien, relations between the two countries continue to grow. Acknowledging his contribution; the Japanese Emperor conferred him the Medal "the gold sunshine" which is the Noble Order of the Japanese government offered to foreigners. Vu Khac Lien is the person who builds cultural cohesion between Vietnam and Japan.
Huong Thu
Vietnamese
