TOKYO — Lê Thương, President of the Vietnamese Association in Japan's Kansai region, was presented with the Global Citizen Community Award by the International Friendship Promotion Association (IHA) in Osaka on Sunday, as part of the 18th International Friendship Cultural Exchange Programme.

The award recognises outstanding contributions to cultural exchange, community engagement and the promotion of international friendship.

According to the citation, Thương was honoured for her significant efforts to foster mutual understanding among peoples, promote international cultural exchange, organise a wide range of community-focused initiatives, and strengthen cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan in the fields of culture, education, the economy and human resource development.

As President of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, Thương and the association's executive committee have implemented numerous meaningful programmes to support the Vietnamese community in Japan, preserve the Vietnamese language and national cultural identity, strengthen ties with Japanese authorities and organisations, and promote people-to-people exchanges and bilateral cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shinjo Takeshi, President of the IHA, praised Thương's contributions over many years, saying her work has helped strengthen community bonds, expand people-to-people exchanges and promote the spirit of international friendship.

Organisers noted that Thương is the only foreign recipient of the award in 2026, marking a significant achievement for the Vietnamese community in Japan on the international cultural exchange stage.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, Thương said she was deeply honoured by the recognition, describing it as a great source of encouragement for her and the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region to continue contributing to cultural exchange, community engagement and the strengthening of Việt Nam–Japan friendship.

Her recognition as the only foreign recipient of the 2026 Global Citizen Community Award not only acknowledges her personal dedication but also highlights the increasingly active role of the Vietnamese community in Japan in people-to-people diplomacy, cultural exchange and international cooperation, helping to promote Việt Nam's image as a friendly, dynamic and globally integrated nation.

The award ceremony was followed by cultural performances featuring art groups from Việt Nam, the Republic of Korea, China, India, Africa and Japan. The Vietnamese delegation showcased performances by members of the Vietnamese community in the Kansai region, highlighting the country's rich cultural heritage and promoting Vietnamese culture to international audiences.

A calligraphy performance entitled "Peace – An Era of Rising", presented by members of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, received particularly enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The International Friendship Cultural Exchange Programme is an annual event organised by the IHA under the patronage of the Osaka Prefectural Government, the Osaka City Government and the Korean Cultural Centre in Osaka.

The year 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the IHA, a Japanese non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting cultural exchange, international friendship and connections among multicultural communities. — VNA/VNS