Japanese organisation marks 50th anniversary of stopping transportation of US tanks to Vietnam
A ceremony celebrating the 50th year since people of Japan's Kanagawa prefecture blocked the transportation of tanks that the US military intended to send to the battlefield in South Vietnam, was held by the Peace Committee of Kanagawa on December 18.
In the framework of the commemoration, the committee exhibits photos on the movement for peace of Kanagawa’s people. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Tokyo (VNA) – A ceremony celebrating the 50th year since people of Japan's Kanagawaprefecture blocked the transportation of tanks that the US military intended to sendto the battlefield in South Vietnam, was held by the Peace Committee of Kanagawa on December 18.
During the event, participants recalledthe years of fighting for peace and protesting the US military's unjust war inVietnam.
In the early morningof August 5, 1972, the authority and people of Yokohama city of Kanagawa gatheredtogether to prevent the US military from moving five M-48 tanks from Sagamiharalogistics warehouse to the port for transporting to the battlefield in Vietnam, on the grounds that they exceeded public road weight limits under Japanese laws. The US military was forced to bring the tanks backto the warehouse, and could not deliver them toVietnam as planned.
Toshikazu Maru, a member of the committee, highlightedthe significance of the commemoration, saying that it sends out a messagereminding young people of the two countries to not forget history and joinhands for peace for the mankind.
He recalled that peaceorganisations of Kanagawa prefecture were indignant when Japan became a basefor invasion activities of the US imperialists, so the people of the Japanese locality strictly monitored activitiesof US military bases in the prefecture and joined demonstrations to support theVietnamese people's struggle for national liberation.
In the framework of the commemoration, the committee exhibited photos on themovement for peace of Kanagawa’s people.
♔ As a non-profit organisation operatingon the principle of peace, for many years, the committee has organised the commemoration of the event every five years, contributing to disseminate patriotism and calling on young people of the two countries to join hands to prevent risksthat may lead to war in the future./.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with Japanese Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo on September 28, part of his trip to the Northeast Asian country to attend the state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
The 16th Meeting of the Experts' Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations (EWG PKO) Cycle 4 for the 2021-2023 period took place via video conference on October 11.
Officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) convened their 10th theoretical exchange workshop in Tokyo on October 13.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung has suggested Japan expand areas receiving Vietnamese workers under Japan’s “specific skilled workers” programme.
A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, led by its Vice Chairman Phan Xuan Thuy, met with officials of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Tokyo during their recent working visit to Japan.
The handover ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy headquarters in Mexico City on August 8, with the presence of heads of diplomatic missions from ASEAN member states in Mexico.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.