The head of Vietnam’s Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper paid a visit on Wednesday to the office of its Japanese counterpart, Mainichi, in Tokyo to discuss ways to upgrade the two dailies’ strategic partnership.

Tang Huu Phong, editor-in-chief of the Ho Chi Minh City-based newspaper, is in Japan to attend a Tuoi Tre-backed music show in the Japanese capital tonight, April 14.

Mainichi is also one of the co-organizers of the program, ‘Canh Hoa Hoa Binh’ (Petal of Peace), held in celebration of Vietnam’s aspirations for peace and the resolutions of Vietnam and Japan in defending their national sovereignty.

The Japanese newspaper, with a daily circulation of 4.3 million, has been Tuoi Tre’s strategic partner since March 2011.

Besides ‘Canh Hoa Hoa Binh,’ Mainichi has also collaborated with Tuoi Tre on many other media campaigns in the fields of business, culture, and education.

At the meeting, Phong voiced his appreciation for the successful cooperation between the two newspapers.

The Tuoi Tre editor-in-chief also expressed his hope that the relationship will be elevated to a new height – being the media representative of each other.

“The establishment of a global business unit of Mainichi has brought chances of deeper and wider cooperation from both sides,” Phong said.

“We hope Mainichi will not only collaborate with Tuoi Tre but also support the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Vietnam National Union of Students in organizing meaningful programs.”

Le Quoc Phong, secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam National Union of Students, also joined the visit to Mainichi’s headquarters.

Yutaka Asahina, president of the Mainichi Newspaper Group Holdings Co. Ltd., said the Japanese newspaper will continue to work with Tuoi Tre on future programs.

The latest upcoming project is a program to raise traffic safety awareness, featuring Doraemon, one of Japan’s iconic cartoon characters, for children in Vietnam, Asahina said.

He added Tuoi Tre and Mainichi both have a particular interest in the youth.

As Mainichi presently has many relationships with Japanese universities, Asahina said the newspaper is willing to connect them with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Vietnam National Union of Students, as well as colleges in Vietnam.

Asahina said he saw a bright future for the cooperation between the two newspapers and the Vietnam-Japan relations alike, expressing his belief that such ties will be sustainably strengthened.

Le Quoc Phong, the Central Committee of the Vietnam National Union of Students chairman, said he hopes the two newspapers will co-organize more meaningful programs in Japan in the time to come.

He also pledged support for future programs connecting Vietnamese and Japanese universities and students.

‘Canh Hoa Hoa Binh’ is scheduled to start at 7:00 pm tonight (Vietnam time) at the Tokyo International Forum.

The show is the fourth edition of ‘Tuoi Tre Vietnam – Cau Chuyen Hoa Binh’ (Vietnamese Youth – The Story of Peace).

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