The Japanese Foundation for Encouragement of Social Contribution, chaired by Akie Abe, the wife of late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, donated dozens of wheelchairs to people with disabilities in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Sunday.

The donation was part of the inaugural 'Vietnam-Japan Exchange Toward the Future' program conducted by the foundation in collaboration with Da Nang Mikazuki Japanese Resort & Spa on March 3, supporting a cultural exchange and local residents.

The three recipients of the wheelchairs include the Da Nang Social Support Center, Da Nang Association for People with Disabilities, and Association for People with Disabilities in Lien Chieu District. 

The widow commented that Vietnam has achieved rapid development in the past few years, expressing her hope that the more the country develops, the more its citizens’ awareness of cultural and customs preservation is enhanced.

A truly developed and happy country is one where every citizen desires peace not just for their own nation but for the entire world, said the late Japanese PM's wife.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Takio Yamada commented that the donation to disabled people in Da Nang is a symbol of the connection between the hearts of the citizens of Japan and Vietnam.

The enduring foundation of the strong relationship between the two countries lies in the people-to-people connection, heart-to-heart understanding, and mutual sharing, emphasized Takio.

Last year, Hanoi and Tokyo celebrated 50 years of their diplomatic relations with more than 500 commemorative activities held on both sides, the Vietnamese New Agency cited the ambassador as saying.

Yamada hoped the wheelchair gifts would both improve lives for Vietnamese people with disabilities and strengthen Vietnam-Japan relations.

Deputy chairman of the Da Nang administration Tran Chi Cuong thanked the Japanese foundation and its chairperson for supporting people with disabilities in the coastal city.

He praised Japan for being the foremost investor among 40 countries and territories in Da Nang, and recognized it as a key market contributing tourists to the city.

Also as part of the program, a delegation of the foundation visited children at the Da Nang Agent Orange Victims Support Center.

On March 1, a group of students from Japan’s Kisarazu City High School visited and gave gifts to children at the center.

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