Prof. Vo Tong Xuan (Photo: tuoitre.vn)

The information was announced by the Japanese Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on May 10.

Prof. Vo Tong Xuan, who was born in 1940 in An Giang province, is an established scientist and researcher on agriculture in Vietnam, particularly in the Mekong Delta, the largest rice granary in the country.

After receiving his doctoral certificate at Kyushu University in Japan in 1975 for his research on rice cultivation in the tropics, the Professor has worked with Japanese researchers in conducting research on rice farming.

Prof. Xuan is a pioneer and an active contributor to the promotion of academic exchanges between Japan and Vietnam in the field of agriculture. He was the visiting lecturer at the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University in 1997, during which he arranged many field trips for Vietnamese farmers and policy makers.

The Professor has also made significant contributions to strengthening Vietnam – Japan agricultural cooperation through Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) projects.

Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu sent a letter of congratulations to the Vietnamese professor on the occasion./.

BTA