Some 60 dancers from Japan and five countries in the Mekong River region, including Vietnam, joined in an art performance held in Tokyo in the framework of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009.

The art performance, titled “A Rainbow of Dance”, was organised on December 10 by NPO Japan Asia Fine Arts Association with the attendance of Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan as well as ambassadors of the five countries in the Mekong River region.

“A Rainbow of Dance” is seen as one of the final activities to take place in the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009. “Rice” is the main subject of the art performance as this is essential foodstuff of Japan and Mekong River’s countries, NPO Chairwoman Kayoko Akimoto said.

In a message to the art performance, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada wrote that the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009 has seen an increase and expansion of exchange activities in all fields between Japan and the Mekong River region. This contributed to deepening the relationship as well as boosting mutual understanding between Japan and the Mekong River region’s countries.

Minister Okada expressed his hope that the relationship will be further strengthened for the sake of the mutual prosperity between Japan and the region in the near future.

As scheduled, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a party on December 11 to mark the conclusion of the Mekong-Japan Exchange Year 2009.