The book donation ceremony “READ JAPAN PROJECT” took place in a solemn atmosphere on the morning of November 24, 2021 at HCMC Open University. This is a project of The non- profit Nippon Foundation and the Japan Science Society, implemented since 2008, in order to promote the understanding about the country and people of Japan as well as enhance cultural exchanges in the relationship between Vietnam and Japan. Specifically, there were nearly 120 books donated to the HCMC Open University’s library at the ceremony.

Attending the ceremony, on behalf of the Consulate General, the school board honored to welcome Mr. WATANABE Nobuhiro - Consulate General of Japan in HCMC; Mr. SHIRAISHI Hideyuki – Consul, Head of Culture and Education Department; Ms. Nguyen Thi Bao Uyen – Assistant of the Department of Culture and Education; From Ho Chi Minh City Open University, in attendance were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha - President of Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ms. Au Thi Cam Linh - Director of the School Library and Ms. Ina Chisato, Ms. Chu Vu Nhu Nguyen - Japanese language lecturers at HCMC Open University.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha said “Annually, there is always a library budget plan to invest in and update materials for studying and teaching at HCMCOU. However, the resources for students are still limited, especially books related to Japanese politics, history and culture in English and Japanese languages. Therefore, the books that we are given today from the Japan Science Society are extremely valuable and meaningful. This not only provides students more resources to learn, encourages them to research and have a more accurate picture of Japanese culture, but also helps the Vietnam and Japan relations become stronger and stronger”. On this occasion, Prof. Dr. Minh Ha sent his deepest thanks to the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City, the Japan Foundation, the Japan Science Society for implementing the “READ JAPAN PROJECT: Books for understanding Japan” which is an extremely meaningful project. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha also shared about the outcomes of the University and Japanese enterprises cooperation throughout the past years. Many students after graduation have been working for Japanese enterprises in Vietnam and Japan. HCMC OU also grants scholarships to encourage students in other majors to learn Japanese to improve their job opportunities in the future.

Talking at the ceremony, Mr. WATANABE Nobuhiro - Consulate General of Japan in ​​Ho Chi Minh City highly appreciated the cooperation outcomes of the University with Japanese enterprises in Vietnam and Japan at present. He hopes that the books will be useful to the young generations of the University. He also invited HCMCOU to visit Japan when there is an opportunity to know more about Japan.

Through this book donation program, we believe that there will be a profound relation between the two countries’ young generations, helping Vietnamese students to have the most genuine experience of Japan through these precious books. This also contributes to tighten the long-standing relationship between the Vietnam – Japan in various fields, as well as towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries in the coming year.