- Title: Japan's emperor and empress receive a state welcome in Hanoi
- Date: 1st March 2017
- Summary: HANOI, VIETNAM (MARCH 1, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN HANOI VARIOUS OF HONOUR GUARDS MARCHING
- Embargoed: 15th March 2017 07:03
- Keywords: Vietnam Japan Emperor Akihito. Empress Michiko visit
- Location: HANOI, VIETNAM
- City: HANOI, VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001664NOLH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko were welcomed at a state ceremony in Hanoi on Wednesday (March 1, 2017) hosted by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang.
Akihito and Quang held a meeting in Vietnam's presidential house after the ceremony.
The emperor and empress will meet with Vietnam's top leaders including National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan later in the afternoon.
On Thursday (March 2), Akihito and Michiko will meet families of Japanese soldiers who stayed behind in Vietnam after Japan was defeated in World War Two.
Some 600 former soldiers stayed and were recruited by liberation leader Ho Chi Minh's Viet Minh to provide military expertise to fight French colonial forces.
Although Akihito has no political power, his overseas trips often have diplomatic overtones.
Japan has been Vietnam's biggest aid donor over four decades, Vietnam's investment promotion agency says. For private investment, it ranks second to South Korea.
Both Vietnam and Japan have maritime territorial disputes with China and fear its growing regional weight. Both also back the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, whose future is in doubt after U.S. withdrawal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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