To Lam meets with Japanese Emperor and Empress
VGP - General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in Tokyo on November 11 as part of his four-day official visit to Japan.
General Secretary and President To Lam (second from left) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly and Emperor Naruhito (second from right) and Empress Masako, Tokyo, November 11, 2026 - Photo: VNA
During the meeting, held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako expressed their delight at the positive, substantive and comprehensive development of Viet Nam-Japan relations, as well as increasingly dynamic exchanges between the leaders and people of the two countries.
The Japanese Imperial couple recalled the close ties between the Imperial Family and Viet Nam, highlighting meaningful visits to the Southeast Asian country by members of the Imperial Family, including the 2017 visit by then Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the 2009 visit by then Crown Prince Naruhito, and the 2023 visit by Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
To Lam expressed his sincere appreciation for the affections that Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other members of the Japanese Imperial Family have extended to the Vietnamese people and to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries over the years.
He conveyed the greetings of Vietnamese leaders and people to Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, describing their 2017 visit to Viet Nam as an important historical milestone in bilateral relations.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse on their official visit to Japan, expressing their belief that the visit's success would further strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse shared their impressions of cultural exchange activities during the visit, highlighting the similarities in the character and cultural traditions of the two peoples.
The top Vietnamese leader highlighted vast potential for Viet Nam and Japan to further expand cooperation in education and training, high-quality human resources development, healthcare, culture, tourism and agriculture.
On the occasion, on behalf of the Party, State and people of Viet Nam, he invited Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to visit Viet Nam in the near future to mark the 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2028.
Also on Wednesday afternoon, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted a banquet at the Imperial Palace in honor of General Secretary and State President To Lam, his spouse and members of the high-level Vietnamese delegation.
Earlier, General Secretary and President To Lam and his spouse visited the Viet Nam-Japan Small-Scale Sculpture Exhibition entitled “Dialogues” in Kanagawa prefecture./.