Dr Trần Sơn (left), former head of the Japanese language faculty under the Foreign Trade University (FTU), receives Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Golden Rays from the Japanese ambassador to Việt Nam Yamada Takio. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Anh

HÀ NỘI — Associate Professor, Dr Trần Sơn, former head of the Japanese language faculty under the Foreign Trade University (FTU), has been awarded Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Golden Rays.

The order honours foreigners who have made outstanding achievements in international relations and promoting Japanese culture.

Speaking at the award ceremony held Tuesday, Japanese Ambassador to Việt Nam Yamada Takio said the relationship between Japan and Việt Nam is now at its best, recalling the visit to Việt Nam by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide as his first overseas trip after taking office last October.

He attributed the fruitful friendship to contributions of Japanese language speakers and lauded Sơn’s great efforts in Japanese language training.

Sơn worked as head of the FTU’s Japanese language faculty for 26 years, from 1971-1997. He conducted many research studies on the Japanese language and culture and wrote numerous Japanese books and dictionaries.

Associate Professor, Dr Bùi Anh Tuấn, FTU President, said Sơn and other lecturers at the faculty have made remarkable contributions to building and developing relations between the university and Japanese organisations and businesses, helping promote Việt Nam-Japan relations.

Trần Sơn said he prided himself on two achievements – teaching the translation-interpretation course with the goal of having all Vietnamese teachers without needing the support from Japanese teachers, and the great performance of the students from the Japanese interpretation course across all skills of listening, reading and writing in Japanese characters. — VNS