Kyushu University Welcomes Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong to Ito Campus

On November 30, 2023, H.E. Mr. Vo Van Thuong, President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, made a visit to Kyushu University's Ito Campus. President Thuong was visiting Japan to commemorate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam.

The Vietnamese government is intensifying its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with its National Green Growth Strategy, with a specific focus on advancing hydrogen energy research and development for future applications. President Thuong's keen interest in Japan's advanced hydrogen energy educational and research center at Kyushu University was the impetus for his visit, marking a historic first for a visit from a Vietnamese head of state.

The visit commenced at Shiiki Hall, where Vietnamese students, faculty, and staff at Kyushu University welcomed President Thuong with a warm round of applause. President Tatsuro Ishibashi of Kyushu University then presented him with a traditional hakata-ori table runner, receiving in return a framed embroidered picture depicting Hanoi's Temple of Literature from President Thuong. In his welcoming address, President Ishibashi expressed his hopes for strengthening collaboration between Kyushu University and Vietnam in fields such as clean energy, agriculture, and medicine, thereby contributing to progress and peace throughout Asia and the world. President Thuong’s visit continued with a screening of a video introducing Kyushu University and an engaging exchange between President Thuong and around thirty international students and researchers from Vietnam. President Thuong addressed the students, emphasizing the invaluable nature of their time at Kyushu University and encouraging them to give back to their homeland with the knowledge gained from their studies and research here.

Finally, President Thuong drove to the International Research Center for Hydrogen Energy in MIRAI, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that runs on electricity produced by hydrogen and oxygen. He toured the center and met with Director Kazunari Sasaki, who explained the facilities and answered many of the president’s questions.