In the presence of the Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and leaders of the two countries, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong and Mr. Yamashita Makoto, the governor of Nara prefecture exchanged the memorandum of understanding on organizing the 14th East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress in Thua Thien Hue province in 2025. Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, the head of the Office of the People’s Committee and Mr. Tran Cong Phu, Director of Foreign Affairs Department attended the event.

East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress was organized for the first time in 2010 on the occasion of 1.300^th anniversary of Heijo-Kyo capital to bring localities and regions a chance to discuss problems concerned by the community, discuss policies, solutions and further understand via open and problem-solving discussions. Thua Thien Hue is an enthusiastic member since the Congress was held. Suggestions and presentations made by the province were effective and highly appreciated by members. As planned, the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue province and Nara prefecture will have the 14^th Congress held in Hue city in June 2025 to discuss sustainable tourism and smart city in East Asia.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man receives the Governor of Nara prefecture (Japan), Mr. Yamashita Makoto on December 4, 2024

On this visit, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man recieved the Governor of Nara prefecture (Japan), Mr. Yamashita Makoto. Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Foreign Affairs Vu Hai Ha, the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue province Nguyen Van Phuong and representatives of relevant departments and agencies attended the meeting.

The National Assembly’s Chairman congratulated Nara on signing the cooperative agreement with Thua Thien Hue as this locality was recently recognized as one of the 6 centrally governed cities. He believed that this agreement will bring the two localities opportunity to exchange lessons learned in socio-economic development and other fields.

The National Assembly’s Chairman supported and highly appreciated the fact that Thua Thien Hue and Nara would organize the 14th East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress. He believed that this important event will tighten the cooperative relation for peace and prosperity in East Asia. Mr. Tran Thanh Man acknowledged the bilateral cooperative relation, cooperative activities in human resources, employment, investment, trade, etc. The National Assembly’s Chairman kindly requested Thua Thien Hue province to cooperate with Nara prefecture, focus on exploiting heritage and conservation potentials. Chairman Tran Thanh Man expected the two parties to cooperate, learn lessons and exploit potentials for practical and effective collaboration.

Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong (right) works with the Governor of Nara prefecture (Japan) Yamashita Makoto

On the same day, Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong had a meeting with the Governor of Nara prefecture (Japan) Yamashita Makoto to carry out cooperative activities in the coming time. The leaders of departments and agencies of Thua Thien Hue province and Nara prefecture (Japan) attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Nara prefecture’s Governor congratulated Thua Thien Hue on being recognized as the 6^th centrally governed city in Vietnam. He believed that this important politic milestone marked achievements that the province had obtained, accelerated city’s development in the time to come. Mr. Yamashita Makoto extended his sincere thank to Chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue province for having supported Nara prefecture’s plan on organizing the 14th East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress in Thua Thien Hue province. The governor of Nara prefecture reached an agreement on bilateral cooperative activities within the framework of the agreement to be signed on the 14^th Congress in 2025.

Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong expressed his gratitude to the Governor of Nara prefecture and the representatives of localities for having spent time attending the meeting. According to the provincial leader, Thua Thien Hue expects to accelerate friendly cooperative relation in various fields, create an essential foundation for the two parties to cooperate in human resources exchange, employment, culture, tourism, investment, commerce, people-to-people exchange, etc.

Chairman emphasized that Thua Thien Hue province will continue to support the East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress launched by Nara prefecture, cooperate with Nara as the Congress’s Secretary, soon complete relevant documents and successfully hold the 14^th East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress in 2025.

Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong (right) presents souvenir to the Governor of Nara prefecture (Japan) Yamashita Makoto