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

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

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

At a ceremony on to hand over the decision on September 25^th, Charge d’affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan Nguyen Truong Son said that 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 over 4,000 surgical operations on Vietnamese children with cleft palates and provided loans for poor households with disabled children to develop production.

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

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

Dr. Natsume affirmed that he will continue his efforts to develop the bilateral ties in the near future.

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

Dr. Nagato Natsume is bestowed a second-class Labour Order in 2016.

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./.

VNF/VNA