The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) has presented the “For Peace and Friendship Among Nations” insignia to Akihiro Asato, President of Chateau Hillis Company and member of the Okinawa-Vietnam Friendship Association.

The honour, handed over by VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong at a ceremony in Hanoi on Aug. 26, was in recognition of the Japanese businessman’s effective and tireless contributions to promoting economic cooperation, trade, investment and cultural exchanges between the people of Vietnam and Japan .
In April 1995, Akihiro Asato and a number of members of the Okinawa-Vietnam Friendship Association set up Chateau Hillis, now the Vietnam-Luu Cau cultural village company, in Long Bien district, Hanoi , after making field trips to several southeast Asian countries and with help from former Vietnamese Vice State President Nguyen Thi Binh and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association.

The company, which now employs 250 workers, up from 50 in the first year of establishment, specialises in producing fine art glass products and household utensils for export to the United States and Japan .

Apart from managing the company, Akihiro Asato participated in activities to increase friendly exchanges between the two countries’ people. Chateau Hillis sponsored many humanitarian activities in Vietnam .

Speaking at the award ceremony, Akihiro Asato said he would continue to make contributions to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Japan and Vietnam. /.