Japanese Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Watanabe Nobuhiro (L) hands over the order to Professor and Doctor Vo Tong Xuan (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Labour Hero, People's Teacher, Professor and Doctor Vo Tong Xuan -Honorary Rector of Nam Can Tho University was bestowed “the Order of the RisingSun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” by the Japanese government for his contributionsto promoting agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, at a ceremonyin the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 13.
Addressing the event, Japanese Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City WatanabeNobuhiro said since 1875, the order has been awarded to foreigners who make outstandingachievements in international relations; Japanese cultural development; andadvancements in recipients’ profession; social welfare and environmental protection.
According to theconsul general, Prof. Xuan, who is known as “Dr. Rice”, has contributed to turning Vietnam into aworld famous rice exporter from a rice importing country.
Xuan's achievements inrice research are known not only in Vietnam but also in Japan and manycountries in the region, Nobuhiro said, adding that many researchers in Japanalso received the guidance of Prof. Xuan.
For his part, Prof. Xuantold with the pride that this recognition is the motivation for himself to makemore efforts to continue study, research and dedication to Vietnam’s socio-economicdevelopment, especially to the agricultural sector; and contribute tostrengthening the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Japan.
Xuan is an agricultural scientist with many of his research works conducted in the Mekong Delta – Vietnam’s rice granary. He conducted a study focusing in rice cultivation techniques in the tropics in 1974 while he wasstudying at Kyushu University in Japan. After completing his doctoral degree inagronomy, he returned home and worked at Can Tho University. In collaborationwith Japanese researchers, Xuan continued to carry out studies on ricecultivation techniques.
In 1997, as a research fellow and visitinglecturer at Kyoto University’s Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, he came toJapan for a year, during which he studied the host nation’s agriculturalcooperative models and helped arranging learning tours in Japan for Vietnamesefarmers and policymakers.
After returning to Vietnam, based on his studies at Kyoto University, Xuan introduced agricultural policy, particularly Japaneseagricultural cooperatives and techniques, at many workshops. In addition, asan agronomist, he has made great contributions to strengthening cooperation inthe agricultural sector between Japan and Vietnam via Japan's ODA cooperationprogrammes./.
