Japanese doctor Nagato Natsume has been appointed as Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Nagoya city of Aichi prefecture.

Doctor Nagato Natsume (left) carries out a surgery for a Vietnamese patient.

Dr. Natsume, who is Director of the Japanese Cleft Palate Foundation, will take over the position for the 2017-2020 term.

At a ceremony on September 25 to hand over the decision, Charge d’affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan Nguyen Truong Son said the appointment of Dr. Natsume indicated the Vietnamese Government’s and people’s recognition of his tireless contributions to Vietnam.

Over the past 25 years, the doctor has assisted in conducting more than 4,000 surgical operations on Vietnamese children with cleft palate and providing loans for poor households with disabled children to develop production.

Son expressed his belief that Dr. Natsume, with his prestige, will foster links between Aichi prefecture and Vietnam, and contribute to protecting Vietnamese citizens in the region.

The diplomat also voided his hope that the honorary consul will make further contributions to Vietnam – Japan relations, particularly in the fields of culture, education and investment.

Dr. Natsume affirmed that he will continue efforts to develop bilateral ties in the coming time.

He also unveiled his plan to help Vietnamese people get access to quality health care services and pharmaceutical products, and promised to assist Vietnamese students and workers in Aichi.

In 2016, Dr. Natsume was bestowed a second-class Labour Order by President Tran Dai Quang for his excellent contributions to Vietnam’s health sector and Vietnam-Japan friendship.

VNA